Bi-Weekly Clips - Path to War

Readers:

Welcome to the unedited uncensored bi-weekly clips prepared by other Oregonians for your consideration with other sources of information.

The young compilers have reached back to bring you up to date on the path to war.  If you follow the mainstream media then you know Swedes and Brits are rushing to buy emergency supplies as their governments warn of immanent war including compulsory military service. 

Each of the last three months were unique in rural Oregon.  November was property tax bills thanks to the Democrats.  December was economic stagnation with inflation thanks to the Democrats.  January was increased electricity bills thanks to the Democrats.  Our bill doubled to $776.23 for January 2024.  Actual consumption only increased 6% even with the ice storm.  We do not heat either the house or water or cook with electricity.  No wonder legislators are getting complaints after five decades of Democrat Party in rule in Oregon.  Please do vote Democrat so we can all freeze, starve and live in caves to save their corporate union feudalism donors.  Welcome to five decades Democrat Party reality. 

Oh, to be fair, the neocons and rhinos have helped bring us to the brink of disaster as well.  Do not believe me?  Then ask yourself why independents outnumber Democrats and Republicans? 

The bi-weekly clips on the path to war:

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OREGON

California and Oregon told students and workers that they can skip Covid isolation if they are asymptomatic, a departure from C.D.C. guidelines. An interesting “full-circle” point on why these two leftist states are breaking from the CDC goes back to the beginning of COVID in 2020. COVID “started” in March, after students paid tuition. Schools got federal money. But enrollments are declining for a variety of reasons. For example, In 2021, enrollments were 14.6% down from peak enrollment in 2010. So now, colleges need money and are conveniently forgetting health concerns, at least until the government gives them more money…

Along the same lines, OPB reports about how Oregon graduation rates remain flat for the COVID-impacted class of 2023, “Last spring’s graduates were just starting high school when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit…”

WWeek reports: “Portland Police Bureau faces wave of retirements. The police bureau gained 61 officers last year but lost 72.”

The Oregonian reports on the ambulance shortage in Portland: “Interim Portland Fire Chief Ryan Gillespie is the latest official imploring Multnomah County commissioners and health officials to address dangerously slow ambulance response times by changing the staffing model the county imposes on its ambulance provider.”

NATIONAL

DeSantis drops out and then unloads on Trump after endorsing him.

From Persuasion, a substack with lots of ideas: America’s families are not okay: Inside the crisis of parent-child estrangement.

The Daily Wire proudly reports that the U.S. shared intelligence with Iran about a pending terrorist attack by ISIS-K, but that Iran didn’t do anything with the info the prevent the attack that resulted in the deaths of 84 Iranians. It is beyond messed up that the Iranian government allegedly had information to prevent the senseless deaths of 84 people and did nothing. The article goes into America’s policy for notifying “everyone,” including adversaries, “if they are being targeted by a terrorist group. The exceptions to that rule include ‘if the intended victims are themselves terrorists or criminals, or if issuing a warning would endanger U.S. or allied government personnel, or intelligence or military operations.’” This looks like perfect fodder for America to make Iran out to be the “bad guy” to sell more contracts for wars overseas. America is already fighting Iran’s Houthi terrorist group.

This is relevant: Navy identifies 2 SEALs lost at sea off Yemen during Iranian weapons seizure.

Allegedly the funding for the border deal in doubt after “Trump comments.” He’s not even in office – how do his comments possibly stop Congress from working?

FROM THE ARCHIVES of this newsletter on the American border crisis. Remember, the American borders have been open Biden’s entire presidency. The issue was top-of-mind when Biden first took office but has since fallen off the radar. Until now. This issue has returned to the headlines to serve as a political tool, likely to get whichever candidate the bureaucratic machine favors in the presidential office. Right now, it appears to be turning the tides against Biden, especially since his Leftist base wants open borders (which makes it hard to argue that America is still its own country without them…) but those paying attention have witnessed just how quickly a story can be forgotten to protect the “machine.” Who does the “machine” want? That’s the question this election.

March 2021 (three months after Biden was sworn in): “The Biden administration is having an increasingly difficult time grappling with the “unprecedented crisis” on our southern border, and the national media are having an increasingly difficult time pretending that Joe Biden’s rhetoric and policies had nothing to do with the surge of migrants arriving now. 3,700 unaccompanied minors as “Kids in cages” has been rebranded to “kids in facilities” and the legacy media jumps at the chance to defend the current president.” At this time in 2021, the Biden Admin was also pushing COVID-19 vaccines for all Americans and was quoted promising, “President Biden said last week: ‘If we do this together, by July the 4th, there is a good chance you, your family and friends can get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout or a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day.’”

June 2021: “Child abuse has been ignored at the migrant facilities on the southern border.”

July 2021: “Here’s the position of the Biden Administration on immigration: Cartels sending unaccompanied children across the U.S.-Mexico border for profit, fine. Cuban refugees escaping prosecution by boat, bad. The last thing this country needs is another mass migration crisis stemming from Haiti or Cuba, but given the administration’s previous immigration stance, its messaging is revealing. You can’t help but wonder whether this position has anything to do with the Democrat’s affection for communism, or with the fact that Cuban refugees are waving the American flag in a symbol against socialism—and therefore, wouldn’t be beneficial to Democrat’s political end goals.”

August 2021: “In a leaked recording obtained by Fox News, Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas can be heard admitting that the situation at the border is “unsustainable” and that ‘we’re going to lose’ if ‘borders are the first line of defense.’” And then, “On Monday, it was revealed by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that he and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about the possibility of a 'complete opening’ of the US-Mexico border.”

September 2021: “WATCH: Close up video footage of 10,000+ illegal aliens under overpass. Biden Admin to stop the use of drones at the Southern border because they show how bad the crisis is. The Texas governor doesn’t have any spine and reversed an order to shutdown border crossing locations and then blamed Biden.” This news clip is particularly interesting because right now the Texas Gov. is being lauded as a hero for calling attention to the border crisis.

September 2021: “Biden’s shameful attack on border patrol (who work for him….).” When this newsletter was written, the gerrymandered district maps in Oregon were hot news.

In 2022, the chatter over borders had more to do with Ukraine being celebrated for building a wall to separate from Belarus and the border between Ukraine and Russia.

CONSPIRACY CORNER: Starting a new series called the “Conspiracy Corner.” The purpose of this section is to go over conspiracy theories that are long forgotten or more modern and everything in between. Modern myths and conspiracies are fascinating! Submit your ideas here.

Kicking off the series with an older ~*~conspiracy~*~ that centers around something seemingly inconspicuous: Mattress Firm. Back in 2018, some rando on Reddit wondered aloud why Mattress Firm had multiple storefronts within a four-block radius in a part of Chicago. The writer thought that there was no way the demand for mattresses could be that high to need that many businesses within such proximity. The conspiracy was a question of whether the mattress chain could be part of a money laundering scheme because it had so many locations by one another, many allegedly with limited inventory. Shortly after the Reddit post gained traction, Mattress Firm claimed bankruptcy, and announced it would shut down many stores, focusing specifically on the ones ‘close to each other.’

The news blew over, as it always does, and the story faded from memory. If Mattress Firm is truly bankrupt, why are there currently 19 Mattress Firm locations in the Portland area (according to a quick Google Maps search)? In the same area, there are 6 Sleep Number storefronts and 15 Targets, a popular retailer that sells everything, including mattresses. Seattle and Tacoma have 20 Mattress Firm locations, 19 Targets, 11 Sleep Numbers. What do YOU think about this conspiracy theory?

WORLD

Israel

WSJ: Israel’s war with Hamas has no end in sight.

This war started because Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel, killing over a thousand people, including women and children, and taking hundreds of hostages. Israel's response was to get in there and launch a military offensive.

Hamas is continuing to fire rockets at Israel, even as Israel’s "allies" tell them to scale back. America reacted similarly to Israel when it came to 9/11; a terrorist attack on American soil that resulted in Americans going overseas to say, “Not on our watch.” And then we embarrassingly pulled out of Afghanistan, leaving the country in ruin and to face a renewed Taliban, but that’s a story for a different day. Here, the NYTimes draws parallels to the American right by saying Israel’s "political right" does not want to scale back the war effort. Is this a U.S. mainstream media attempt to paint the “right” as the war hawks (looking at you Lindsey Graham in 2022 and 2023) instead of the Democrats (all of this for the election)? Back to “peace loving” Democrats once again?

Another question to ponder: Are "allies" calling on Israel to back-off to keep Ukraine in the drivers' seat for American financial aid and/or is it because the Democrats' leftist base is rapidly pro-Palestine and publicly supporting Israel puts Democrats in the hot seat for the election?

Ukraine/Russia

Possible deal on Ukraine aid, immigration reform at risk of collapsing. Why do we need to send MORE to Ukraine? Apparently they are on the brink of running out of money to keep the government running if U.S. and European aid doesn’t arrive.

High-powered Hollywood show called “The White Lotus” is receiving Ukraine’s ire for hiring a “pro-Putin serb” to star in the show. Is the war so bad that they have time to come after American entertainment? Interesting.

Putin’s would-be opponent vows to end Ukraine war.

Russia and Iran finalize a 20-year deal, replacing the 10-year deal signed in March 2001. The new deal has been expanded in scope and scale. From the article: “the new deal gives Russia the first right of extraction in the Iranian section of the Caspian Sea, including the potentially huge Chalous field. The wider Caspian basins area, including both onshore and offshore fields, is conservatively estimated to have around 48 billion barrels of oil and 292 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas in proven and probable reserves.”

Speaking of energy… Nuclear power output is expected to break global records in 2025 as U.S. nuclear plants and uranium miners prepare for possible U.S. ban on Russian uranium. Uranium is about to get more expensive as Kazatomprom, “the world’s leading uranium miner, accounting for over one-fifth of the world’s production” in Kazakhstan is running into extraction delays.  The U.S. was recently “involved” in a coup in Niger, a struggling country that is now auditing its mining industry as one of the world’s largest producers of uranium. Interesting timing?

Afghanistan

The New York Times reports: “After Years, F.B.I. Recovers Remains of American Woman in Afghanistan. The recovery of Cydney Mizell, an aid worker abducted in 2008, demonstrates the intricacies of tracking down hostages, particularly in a country where the United States no longer has a presence.” The article continues, “So far, no one has been charged in Ms. Mizell’s kidnapping and killing. But a former U.S. official familiar with the case said the Taliban were most likely behind the abduction and had hoped to trade her for one of their members held at the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.”

Air Force Times reports: Helicopter pilot details final days of HH-60 rescue ops in Afghanistan. Maj. Mark Ross received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal for role in US withdrawal.

Trade resumes as Afghanistan and Pakistan reopen Torkham border.

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Comments & Observations.

If we are on the path to war let’s discuss it since the ‘woke’ Biden Blinken & Nuland’s Ukraine draft is for ages 27 to 70 years old’s in Ukraine.  Are we next?  Ukraine is rounding up canon folder while Britain is gearing up while the U.S. Congress is grumbling for corporate union feudal war money … $106 billion in fantasy dollars.  Money to make more homeless at home and abroad?

Observations and comments for consideration are to start you thinking.  Neither right or wrong.  Simply comments for consideration.  However, these world events will impact all of us personally whether we like it or not.  

White Oligarch Wars.  The 51^st State of Ukraine is looking bad this week.  US UK EU generals are all pimping more expensive weapons while Ukrainians die in groves.  Images of the Ukrainian military burying soldiers in mass graves are coming out.  BTW, this prevents the widows from collecting death benefits as the soldiers are simply missing in combat.  Recall the Ukraine conscription is for 27 to 70 year olds.  Younger euro Zelensky supporters are not drafted.   The average age of a Ukrainian soldier is 43 or older. How old are you?  Over 70 years old?

News reports are citing an ex-google executive is building secret ‘game changing’ or ‘kamikaze’ drones for the USG to win in Ukraine and China sounds more like profiteering than useful reality.  Tactical drones are very valuable in war but are not strategic winners for the war to come.   Further, besides being too late, anything USG new is expensive, not asymmetrical, not a ‘game changer.’  Simple profiteering.  Where do you spend profits if your lose? 

There are multiple reports the US UK are urging Zelensky to relocate ‘his capitol’ from Kiev to Lviv on the Polish border.  Is this due to an unknown Russian advance or a perceived internal Ukrainian coup?  Recall Zelensky is protected by non-Ukrainian security.  Recall Zelensky is at odds with the Mayor of Kyiv.  Recall Zelensky has been arresting, jailing and killing his political opponents.  Recall the Ukrainian soldiers on social media are not kind toward Zelensky.  Recall Poland is looking for a reason to occupy Lviv.  Good idea to move? 

Ukraine admitted it shot down an IL-76 aircraft near Belgorod this week.  US UK missiles were used per nearly every independent expert online.  Russia claims it was carrying Ukrainian POWs being prepared to a planned prisoner exchange the next day negotiated by UAE?  The pictures look real, and bloody.  Recall last year, Ukraine negotiated the consolidation of POW centers to ensure neither side targeted them by mistake.  Ukraine then killed nearly a hundred of its own POWs with a US missile strike on the Russian camp. 

Russians claimed to have struck a French mercenary unit in Ukraine killing 70 plus Frenchmen last week.  France denied it saying there were no French mercenaries.  Then France claimed they were French dead but they could not prevent them from fighting the evil Russians.  French law prohibits being a mercenary.  French law says they can try people worldwide.  Now it gets even stranger.  Reports indicate they were not ‘mercenaries’ but instead French Foreign Legionnaires being used to operate special equipment?  So they were not French, but were French provided, but were not mercenaries, but were what?  Other than dead? 

The debate in the DC Swamp continues as to providing $106 billion to pay Ukrainian government employees while funding DoD with $50 billion for Ukraine munitions that cannot be delivered in time or even in years.  The GOP DC Neocon scam for US border security in 4-6 years is part of these corporate union feudal donor paybacks, and profiteering, is in the mix as well.  Another nonsolution?

Gaza City Conflict.  The battle for a place the size of the City of Portland continues to rack up casualties in a tragic manner.  Peace is needed but both primary sides appear to oppose a two-state solution.  The UN is admitting some involvement in October 7^th now.  The US UK Germany (odd) continue to supply arms to Israel.  Luckily, the populations of the Arab states have not forced their own non-democratic governments to engage in the conflict.  Could that change with Turkey now that it is being rearmed after agreeing to allow Sweden into NATO?  The US is clearly involved in attacking Yemenis, Iraqi and Syrian people 'as they say' to “prevent the war from spreading.”  Bombing, like economic sanctions, have never been effective at preventing wars.  This sort of ‘deterrence’ usually has the opposite effect as nobody forgives the USA for killing their children, sisters, brothers, parents, and other relatives.  For the people of the region, it appears to be a lose-lose situation as the war continues to spread.  Pray not. 

NATO (Turkey v Sweden).  Turkey approved Sweden joining NATO yesterday.  Biden immediately released hundreds of millions in F-16 aircraft, spare parts and munitions.  You can bet Turkey will want the items in a matter of weeks not months.  Turkey paid for these long ago.  The munitions have been in storage.  The USG has been blackmailing Turkey for years.  Now Turkey needs to act quick to prepare for war itself but against whom?  Sweden, as one of the world’s largest weapons dealers, needs protection quick for it’s double dealing as a former neutral country.  Switzerland faces the same double-dealing problem as well.  However, is the threat Russia or Global South Moslems who opposed EU UK US support for Israel and neo colonialism?  Or is the threat their own citizens?

Red Sea Lie.  Biden and Sunak expand the air bombing in Yemen to drive up white US Anglo Saxon corporate profits of the feudal donor class.  WEF bubbas?  Air bombing, not missiles, as the USG is running out of missiles.  Seven years to replacement. Thus, we peasants and western European serfs pay more, but nobody else does, like the establishment and bureaucrats?   $106 billion is a drop in the debt bucket.  US, UAE and Saudi Arabia conducted over 27,000 airstrikes against the Houthi Ansar Allah Zaydis in the past eight years in Yemen.  27,000 plus.  Accomplished nothing other than making them hate America for killing their children, brothers and sisters.  So why now?  If we kill another million they will love America? Corporate profits? 

Houthi are targeting white colonial US Anglo Saxon ships supporting Israel in the Gaza City Conflict.  These ship owning companies have doubled and triple container shipping rates nearly worldwide, but no shortages, except in profits exist.  Lots of Houthis in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans you know?  There is no shortage of container shipping capacity.  These companies have slowed their ships from 22 knots to 14 knots to increase profits.  Or even slower.  There is no 3-5 day canal transit time around the Horn of Africa either.  Chinese, Russian, and Global South shipping is passing daily through the Suez Canal.  Only Anglo Saxon allied ships are diverting.  See Marine Tracker yourself.  Most modern container ships are too large for the Suezmax restrictions to passage through the Suez Canal.  See below.  Q-max LNG ship drafts of 13.5 meters exceed the canal depth.  Almost all Persian Gulf oil is shipped on VLCC and ULCC ships that are too large for the Suez Canal.  Qatar, a Hamas ally, in a USG sympathy move, announced it was concerned about its ships as well?  However, almost all Qatar tankers are too large for the Suez. What is the concern?  And for whom?

BTW, international ocean shipping profits skyrocketed during the covid pandemic as governments created artificial constraints.   Different but like this situation?   Egypt is reporting transit tonnage has decreased 36% meaning 64% continues thru the canal.  The average ship pays just under $500,000 to transit the canal.  Almost zero US imports transit the Suez Canal.  Look at a map.  Self-defending 8000 miles away for whom? 

The British oil tanker ‘Marlin Luanda’ was hit by a missile 85 miles SE of Yemen in the Sea of Aden this week.  True but where was it enroute too?  The 'Marine Luanda' exceeds the draft of the Suez Canal if loaded.  The Houthi do not control South Yemen either.  So how again?  Additionally, two US merchant marine ships transporting weapons were targeted earlier this week.  A naval destroyer was targeted yesterday but it has been firing away at the Yemenis for weeks now.   Not a very good military plan?   But keep in mind, we must defend the borders of Red Sea 8000 miles away as it is 'self-defense' … just ignore the Texas border?  And 25 other states? 

Talking heads, incompetent generals, and lying news media of the establishment are drumming the lies across the internet so do not be fooled.  FYI, this is called information or phycological warfare by the government.  We spend hundreds of millions on misleading the public to support war outcomes.  Research it yourselves.  It is easy to find.  However, we ‘five eyes’ colonials are going to pay more regardless until the DC Swamp and London mudflats are drained?  Or change their religion?     

Oregon Legislature.  The biennial short session of the Oregon Legislature commences February 5, 2024.  The majority Democrats are planning about 25 days while the law allows 35 days.  Bill introduction is long past.  Very few bills will be considered.  It is too late for any new asks or bills.  Bills will not be made public until the session starts?  Any day after 2/7 hearings and work sessions may be done on one-hour notice?  Democrats control the entire process.  The legal biennial budget was set in 2023.  There is no new revenue to spend contrary to lies from the media.  Only changes to existing budgets can fund anything additional.  As example, Governor Kotek wants to re-program up to $500 million for her favorite housing programs.  ODOT needs $19 million for winter maintenance since their $5.9 billion budget is not enough.   Again, Governor Kotek is a hero per the media for asking for $19 million more for snow plowing.  $5.9 billion plus $19 million more equals what?  Why again?  Since all real legislation is done in secret by the Democrat majority we shall see what happens.  Do not believe me?  Then read the articles yourself.  Link #1.  Link #2.

Legislature link. OLIS session link.

Lastly.  There is some discussion about blocking future legislative newsletters and clips by the tech companies who hate freedom of speech.  Neither does the federal government.  Neither does the Oregon Attorney General.  However, this includes all newsletters not just this one.  The drop-dead date for censure is next week.  We shall see if this is the last clips or not shortly.   

Like the Swedes and Brits, be prepared, be ready, and pray for peace. 

Government serves Government not the People.

De oppresso liber. 

Sincerely,

Brian Boquist

Oregon State Senator

 

Ship Sizes for Sea Routes: Suez Canal (Suezmax).

https://www.marineinsight.com/types-of-ships/the-ultimate-guide-to-ship-sizes/ 

 

The tanker 'Marine Luanda' on fire.  Link.

Again, the clips are intended to stimulate thought not express any position on any topic.