How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Adam Engel – Sox Machine

Posted on by

I know that you dont want to talk about this player, I cant believe Im even having thoughts in this mans defense. We all wanted so desperately to only hear his name while talking about the terrible players that started during the rebuild years, but hes still here. His name is Adam Engel.

Im talking about him because Nomar Mazara has been placed on the 10-day IL and were trying to figure out who will start in right field on opening day. Consider yourself lucky; of all the players that we could be missing when the season starts Mazara was never your superstar or X-factor. He was just the best option in a place where the White Sox werent completely lacking depth. He may not be one of those hard-to-watch defenders in the outfield, but hes yet to put up a positive dWAR in a season and his offense has always been more enticing based on his upside and handedness than his actual production.

Without him we are left with three choices: Leury Garcia, Adam Engel, and Nicky Delmonico.

Nicky Delmonico sounds nice: his swing looks sexy on highlight videos, hes left-handed, and he looks like a ballplayer. Examine your biases though- would you give him a second thought if he swung from the other side of the plate? Arent you more interested in him because he has that classic smiley kid-having-fun baseball face? I know Chuck Garfien has been going on about how his down years may have been plagued by injury, but it has now been three years since Delmonico being at the plate was exciting. The home run against the Brewers was thrilling, but it came against opposite handed pitching. If you are taking summer camp home runs as evidence how is that better than Engels home run against Hendricks- a same-sided pitcher with a better history than Grimm- that nearly hit Waveland? Its not- it just looked awesome. Thats Nicky- looks so great when he succeeds that it seems right even though the results disagree.

Leury Garcia feels like hes earned it. Among all the rebuild-era players he was never one of the embarrassing ones. The batting average was there when he was healthy and he got to be the example of skills an outfielder had when Outfielder Jump was revealed as a statistic by baseball savant. His versatility is also valuable to an organization, he fills a lot of holes when it comes to outfield or infield depth. But like Adam Engel, his career rWAR is mostly made up from his 2019 season. He may be a switch hitter, but his platoon splits are very much like those of a typical right-handed batter.

For a while, this offense was enough to best Adam Engel offensively, but its gotten harder and harder. Adam Engel, while not exciting against right-handed pitching by any means, has made steady improvement each year that hes been in the bigs.

Obviously it wasnt hard to best his disastrous 2017 offensive output, but a glove-first center fielder can hold his own with last years offensive production. Probably not as a starter, but as your fourth outfielder? Im actually very OK with it. Its hard to say even now for me, I dreaded those Engel at-bats the past few years. I just have more faith in a player whos made steady improvement as opposed to ones with random flashes of potential. I know hes going to see more right-handed starters against Minnesota and Cleveland these first 10 days, but the production against lefties has actually been worth watching

Even if I cant convince you that Adam Engel is the best offensive choice among the three, you cant say that theres one that stands clearly atop the rest. And while offense is the most valuable aspect of the game, defense and baserunning are still important. I dont need any numbers here, even if they all tell the same story. If you think that Leury or Nicky are more valuable in those categories, then your Engel fatigue is just too strong for rationale.

Its only a 10-day IL stint, a sample size so small that well never fully have the results to justify what the best choice for playing time should have been.

What I can tell you is this: as much as you hate or hated Adam Engel, hes actually a decent fourth outfielder to have. Thats the guy you want giving your regulars days off and being first off the bench when theres an injury gap to fill.

Read the original post:

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Adam Engel - Sox Machine

UK trade department to tackle ‘fake news’ with new rebuttal role – The Guardian

Posted on by

Liz Trusss Department of International Trade is to tackle what it views as fake news about the UKs post Brexit trade policy with its own rapid rebuttal expert.

The DIT has just advertised a new position of chief media officer, trade policy and rebuttal to handle the press and denounce stories it believes are false or contain false information.

The term fake news was given international currency by Donald Trump to denounce mainstream media outlets who challenged the US president on his pronouncements.

The job advert confirms the phrase is now being adopted by government in the UK to combat the fast-moving and international commentary on Twitter, Facebook and other platforms.

With less than six months to go before the UK leaves the EUs single market and customs union, the department is also casting for a new director general for trade relations and implementation to lead 800 staff, act as ambassador for UK trade policy at the highest levels and build a pipeline of candidates for future free trade agreements.

According to the advert, the DITs new chief media officer will be asked to advise ministers on reactive media handling and rebuttal, as well as managing rapid rebuttal processes and combatting fake news on social media as well as brief and handle lobby journalists on high-profile reactive and proactive stories, and develop a programme of media briefings to shape stories.

Responsibilities will also include promoting our four priority trade deals, which sources say are the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Japan recently gave the UK until the end of July to complete a continuity deal which would kick in temporarily after the UK loses access to the EU deals in January.

The vacancy comes as Boris Johnsons chief adviser Dominic Cummings seeks to shake up media relations in Whitehall.

Two weeks ago Downing Street advertised for a 135,000-a-year data expert to set up a skunkworks in No 10, a reference to a pseudo start-up in the vein of those pioneered by aircraft maker Lockheed Martin to fire up innovative projects unencumbered by bureaucracy.

A DIT spokesperson said: Seeking free trade agreements is a key priority for this country.

The government is drawing on the skills of the brightest and best talent to achieve departmental goals and support in securing future trade deals.

More here:

UK trade department to tackle 'fake news' with new rebuttal role - The Guardian

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) | Founders, Members …

Posted on by

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949, which sought to create a counterweight to Soviet armies stationed in central and eastern Europe after World War II. Its original members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Joining the original signatories were Greece and Turkey (1952); West Germany (1955; from 1990 as Germany); Spain (1982); the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland (1999); Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (2004); Albania and Croatia (2009); and Montenegro (2017). France withdrew from the integrated military command of NATO in 1966 but remained a member of the organization; it resumed its position in NATOs military command in 2009.

Britannica Quiz

World Organizations: Fact or Fiction?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization began in medieval times.

The heart of NATO is expressed in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, in which the signatory members agree that

an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all; and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time in 2001, after the September 11 attacks organized by exiled Saudi Arabian millionaire Osama bin Laden destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City and part of the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., killing some 3,000 people.

Article 6 defines the geographic scope of the treaty as covering an armed attack on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America. Other articles commit the allies to strengthening their democratic institutions, to building their collective military capability, to consulting each other, and to remaining open to inviting other European states to join.

After World War II in 1945, western Europe was economically exhausted and militarily weak (the western Allies had rapidly and drastically reduced their armies at the end of the war), and newly powerful communist parties had arisen in France and Italy. By contrast, the Soviet Union had emerged from the war with its armies dominating all the states of central and eastern Europe, and by 1948 communists under Moscows sponsorship had consolidated their control of the governments of those countries and suppressed all noncommunist political activity. What became known as the Iron Curtain, a term popularized by Winston Churchill, had descended over central and eastern Europe. Further, wartime cooperation between the western Allies and the Soviets had completely broken down. Each side was organizing its own sector of occupied Germany, so that two German states would emerge, a democratic one in the west and a communist one in the east.

In 1948 the United States launched the Marshall Plan, which infused massive amounts of economic aid to the countries of western and southern Europe on the condition that they cooperate with each other and engage in joint planning to hasten their mutual recovery. As for military recovery, under the Brussels Treaty of 1948, the United Kingdom, France, and the Low CountriesBelgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourgconcluded a collective-defense agreement called the Western European Union. It was soon recognized, however, that a more formidable alliance would be required to provide an adequate military counterweight to the Soviets.

By this time Britain, Canada, and the United States had already engaged in secret exploratory talks on security arrangements that would serve as an alternative to the United Nations (UN), which was becoming paralyzed by the rapidly emerging Cold War. In March 1948, following a virtual communist coup dtat in Czechoslovakia in February, the three governments began discussions on a multilateral collective-defense scheme that would enhance Western security and promote democratic values. These discussions were eventually joined by France, the Low Countries, and Norway and in April 1949 resulted in the North Atlantic Treaty.

Spurred by the North Korean invasion of South Korea in June 1950 (see Korean War), the United States took steps to demonstrate that it would resist any Soviet military expansion or pressures in Europe. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the leader of the Allied forces in western Europe in World War II, was named Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) by the North Atlantic Council (NATOs governing body) in December 1950. He was followed as SACEUR by a succession of American generals.

The North Atlantic Council, which was established soon after the treaty came into effect, is composed of ministerial representatives of the member states, who meet at least twice a year. At other times the council, chaired by the NATO secretary-general, remains in permanent session at the ambassadorial level. Just as the position of SACEUR has always been held by an American, the secretary-generalship has always been held by a European.

NATOs military organization encompasses a complete system of commands for possible wartime use. The Military Committee, consisting of representatives of the military chiefs of staff of the member states, subsumes two strategic commands: Allied Command Operations (ACO) and Allied Command Transformation (ACT). ACO is headed by the SACEUR and located at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Casteau, Belgium. ACT is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. During the alliances first 20 years, more than $3 billion worth of infrastructure for NATO forcesbases, airfields, pipelines, communications networks, depotswas jointly planned, financed, and built, with about one-third of the funding from the United States. NATO funding generally is not used for the procurement of military equipment, which is provided by the member statesthough the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force, a fleet of radar-bearing aircraft designed to protect against a surprise low-flying attack, was funded jointly.

Originally posted here:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) | Founders, Members ...

What Is NATOs Article 5? – HISTORY

Posted on by

Article 5 is the cornerstone of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)andstates that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all of its members. But despite its importance, NATO has only invoked Article 5 once in its historyin response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

NATO and Article 5 were established in 1949 in the aftermath of World War II when communist movements supported by the Soviet Union posed a serious threat to democratically elected governments all over a devastated Europe. In 1948, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia overthrew that nations democratic government, while in Germany, Soviet authorities blockaded the Allied-controlled section of Berlin in an attempt to strengthen their position there.

The Berlin Airlift, when U.S. and British planes carried food, fuel and other vital supplies to the isolated citizens of West Berlin, marked an early victory for the West in the Cold War. And with the launch of the Marshall Plan, which provided economic aid to the war-ravaged countries of Europe, the United States had decisively abandoned its earlier policy of isolationism.

But at such a vulnerable time, it seemed clear that Europe required not just economic aid, but also military support, in order to counterbalance the power of the Soviet Union, prevent the revival of nationalist military movements (such as Nazism) and allow for political development along democratic lines.

VIDEO: The Formation of NATO

Tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in the formation of key alliances that would endure throughout the Cold War.

In April 1949, representatives from 12 nationsthe United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, Iceland, Italy and Portugalgathered in Washington, D.C. to sign the North Atlantic Treaty.

Men with courage and vision can still determine their own destiny, President Harry S. Truman declared at the signing ceremony. They can choose slavery or freedomwar or peaceIf there is anything certain today, if there is anything inevitable in the future, it is the will of the people of the world for freedom and for peace.

The treatys key provision was Article 5, which began: The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all While this commitment to collective defense lay at the heart of NATO, it was left to the judgment of each member state to decide how exactly it would contribute.

On September 12, 2001, the day after the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and Pentagon, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time in its history, committing its members to stand by the United States in its response to the attacks. In a four-paragraph resolution that passed unanimously, the organization reflected its understanding that the threats to global security had changed radically in the 52 years since the alliance was founded.

AUDIO: NATO Offers Aid to United States Following 9/11 Attacks

On October 2, 2001, NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson holds a press conference to discuss the events of September 11, and pledges support of the 18 NATO allies in the campaign against international terrorism.

The commitment to collective self-defence embodied in the Washington Treaty was entered into in circumstances very different from those that exist now, the statement read. But it remains no less valid and no less essential today, in a world subject to the scourge of international terrorism.

In addition to participation in the war in Afghanistan, NATOs response to the 9/11 attacks under Article 5 included Operation Eagle Assist, in which NATO aircraft helped patrol the skies over the United States for seven months between 2001 and 2002, and Operation Active Endeavour, in which NATO naval forces were sent to perform counterterrorism activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Operation Active Endeavour, which began in October 2001 and later expanded to the entire Mediterranean region, didnt conclude until 2016.

Though Article 5 has only been officially invoked once, NATO has taken collective defensive measures in other situations, including deploying missiles on the border of Turkey and Syria in 2012. Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the rise of ISIS in recent years led the organization to implement a huge increase in its collective defenses, including tripling the size of the NATO Response Force. In 2014, NATO member states agreed to try and spend 2 percent of their GDPs on defense, although most member states fail to meet this non-binding goal.

President Trump has been highly critical of NATO, calling it obsolete and criticizing other NATO members for not spending enough on defense. But he also affirmed U.S. commitment to Article 5 in June 2017, during a news conference with the president of Romania: Im committing the United States to Article 5, and certainly we are there to protect, and certainly thats one of the reasons that I want people to make sure we have a very, very strong force by paying the kind of money necessary to have that force.

Despite this commitment, Trump appeared to question U.S. responsibility to defend the newest of NATOs 29 member states, under Article 5 during a Fox News interview in July 2018. In response to a question about whether US forces should respond if Montenegro were attacked, Trump said that the tiny nations very aggressive people might end up drawing NATOs members into a war with Russia.

See the original post here:

What Is NATOs Article 5? - HISTORY

NATO Defense Ministers Discuss Alliance’s COVID-19 Response …

Posted on by

NATO defense ministers have reviewed the alliance's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed upon the next steps to take, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg held a virtual news conference in Brussels today after an online meeting of alliance defense ministers. Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper attended the defense ministers meeting from his Pentagon office.

Alliance members are cooperating in reacting to the pandemic just as if an enemy had attacked a NATO member, the secretary general said. "COVID-19 represents an unprecedented challenge to our nations," he added. "It has a profound impact on our people and our economies, and it is imposing historic shocks on the international system, which could have long-term consequences."

Allied officials planned against the pandemic and looked to the lessons that can be taken from the reaction to the viral plague, Stoltenberg said. He noted that in each country, the military is playing a key role in support of civilian efforts against the pandemic. "And using NATO mechanisms, allies have been helping each other to save lives," he added.

The NATO command led by the supreme allied commander for Europe, Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters was tasked with coordinating military support among the 30 allies. The general briefed the defense ministers on the NATO response.

"Military forces from across the Alliance have flown more than 100 missions to transport medical personnel, supplies and treatment capabilities, facilitated the construction of 25 field hospitals, added more than 25,000 treatment beds and deployed over 4,000 military medical personnel in support of civilian efforts," Stoltenberg said. "Today, I encouraged all allies to make their capabilities available so General Wolters can coordinate further support."

He said the pandemic is in different stages of infection in different NATO nations. This means that effectively coordinating resources makes a real difference, he said.

The pandemic is not the only concern for the NATO leaders, as missions of deterrence and defense must continue, Stoltenberg said.

"The bottom line is that security challenges have not diminished because of COVID-19," he said. "On the contrary, potential adversaries will look to exploit the situation to further their own interests. Terrorist groups could be emboldened."

The security situations in Afghanistan and Iraq remain fragile, and Russia continues its pace and threats, Stoltenberg noted.

"We must maintain our deterrence and defense because our core mission remains the same: to ensure peace and stability," the secretary general said. "While we continue to take all the necessary measures to protect our armed forces, our operational readiness remains undiminished, and our forces remain ready, vigilant and prepared to respond to any threat."

The alliance also is actively guarding against state and nonstate disinformation stemming from the pandemic. U.S. officials said that Russia has been using the crisis to its own ends and wants the United States to abandon NATO and weaken the alliance.

"We are countering these false narratives with facts and with concrete actions," Stoltenberg said. "We are also working even closer with allies and the European Union to identify, monitor and expose disinformation, and to respond robustly."

The defense ministers also looked at the long-term implications of the coronavirus, as the geopolitical effects of the pandemic could be significant, Stoltenberg said.

"Some may seek to use the economic downturn as an opening to invest in our critical industries and infrastructure, which in turn may affect our long-term security and our ability to deal with the next crisis when it comes," he said.

It is still early to draw conclusions from these long-term discussions, Stoltenberg said, and discussions about them will continue. The defense ministers did agree, however, on a set of recommendations to strengthen the alliance's resilience.

Alliance members will update existing baseline requirements for civil preparedness, based on the lessons from the crisis. They also pledged to work even closer with international partners, Stoltenberg said.

NATO has adapted to change throughout its history and will continue to do so, Stoltenberg said. NATO was laser-focused on countering the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but adapted to the change once that threat dissolved. It changed again in response to the Balkan crisis and to the attack on the United States by terrorists in 2001. It changed yet again when Russia illegally annexed Crimea and continues to wage war in eastern Ukraine.

The pandemic is another enemy, he said, and the alliance will adapt. But that doesn't mean the alliance will be the first responder for the crisis.

"We should support the civilian efforts to fight this health crisis," the secretary general said. "We see around the whole world and across all NATO allies that military personnel are playing a key role in the fight."

Military airlift has been essential in the fight against the coronavirus, and military personnel are doing everything from disinfecting public spaces to controlling border crossings. NATO is helping to mobilize and coordinate support to NATO allied countries.

The main lesson so far is "a close link between the civilian efforts to fight the health crisis and the ability of the military to support those efforts," the secretary general said. "That's exactly what we also have to look into how we can do even better when the next crisis hits us," he added.

NATO cannot change its core responsibility to defend member states, but there are good reasons to look into how to further strengthen the cooperation between the civilian society combating a health crisis and military capabilities providing support to those civilian efforts, he said.

See the rest here:

NATO Defense Ministers Discuss Alliance's COVID-19 Response ...

Nearly 12,000 US Troops To Be Pulled From Germany, Pentagon Says – NPR

Posted on by

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, pictured earlier this month, announced a drawdown of U.S. troops in Germany on Wednesday. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, pictured earlier this month, announced a drawdown of U.S. troops in Germany on Wednesday.

In a slap at a longtime ally frequently reviled by President Trump, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced Wednesday that the U.S. plans to withdraw roughly a third of the 36,000 American forces stationed in Germany.

Nearly 5,600 of the 11,800 troops to be removed from Germany would be sent to other NATO allies in Europe, including Poland. Another 6,400 would return to the U.S., although they or similar units would be redeployed to other European countries on what Esper described as a "rotational" basis.

"Our aim is to implement these moves as expeditiously as possible," Esper told reporters at the Pentagon. "We could see some moves begin within weeks; others will take longer."

The Pentagon chief cast the decision to cut U.S. forces in Germany as the result of a months-long review of American deployments in Europe aimed at bolstering defense.

"These changes will achieve the core principles of enhancing U.S. and NATO deterrence of Russia, strengthening NATO, reassuring allies and improving U.S. strategic flexibility," Esper said, even as he made clear that the repositioning of U.S. forces remains tentative. "I want to note that this plan is subject to and likely will change to some degree as it evolves over time."

Trump, for his part, has characterized the troop drawdown as a reprisal for what the American president considers to be a refusal by Germany to spend a greater share of its gross domestic product on defense.

In 2014, members of NATO agreed to increase their defense spending to at least 2% of their GDP by 2024. Germany last year spent $49.3 billion on defense, or 1.38% of its GDP, according to German state broadcaster DW.

"Germany's delinquent. They haven't paid their fees, they haven't paid their NATO fees," Trump told Wednesday reporters outside the White House, even though no such "fees" exist for members of NATO. "Germany owes billions and billions of dollars to NATO. And why would we keep all of those troops there?"

Asked at the Pentagon whether the troop reduction was Trump "basically sticking it to Germany," Esper said the president had simply "accelerated" the decision to draw down forces there.

"Let's be clear. I think Germany is the wealthiest country in Europe. Germany can and should pay more to its defense," Esper said. "It should certainly meet the 2% standard, and I would argue go above and beyond that."

Reaction to the move has been decidedly mixed.

After a briefing last week by Pentagon officials on the force drawdown, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee praised the decision.

"I believe the concept for realigning U.S. military posture in Europe, as the President has approved, is sound," said Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., despite noting that any changes may be slow in coming. "It is clear to me that this concept will take months to plan, and years to execute."

But another Senate Republican slammed the decision to cut troops in Germany as "weak."

"U.S. troops aren't stationed around the world as traffic cops or welfare caseworkers they're restraining the expansionary aims of the world's worst regimes, chiefly China and Russia," Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., a member of the upper chamber's intelligence committee, said in a statement. "The President's lack of strategic understanding of this issue increases our response time and hinders the important deterrent work our servicemen and women are doing. Maintaining forward presence is cheaper for our taxpayers and safer for our troops."

In an interview Wednesday on NPR's Here & Now, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., called the move to cut U.S. forces in Germany "terrible."

"It undermines the credibility of the NATO alliance, it calls into question our commitment to our NATO allies," Van Hollen said. "This is exactly the kind of thing that will cause Vladimir Putin to pop his champagne or vodka bottles in Moscow."

Twenty-two of the of the House Armed Services Committee's 26 Republican members wrote Trump in June warning against the proposed troop cuts.

"The forward stationing of American troops since the end of World War II has helped to prevent another world war and, most importantly, has helped make America safer," the GOP lawmakers wrote in a letter signed by the panel's ranking member, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas. "In Europe, the threats posed by Russia have not lessened, and we believe that signs of a weakened U.S. commitment to NATO will encourage further Russian aggression and opportunism."

Among the moves Esper said are being planned:

A former commander of the U.S. European Command blasted those moves in a series of tweets Wednesday.

"What is obvious to me having served 12 years in Germany and having participated in the last force structure change from 2004-2011, this is not a 'strategic' move," retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling wrote on Twitter. "It is specifically a directed personal insult from Trump to our great & very supportive ally Germany."

Hanging over Wednesday's announcement is the presidential election in November and the time it would take to implement the changes.

Given the extended timeline for troop repositioning in Europe that Esper estimates would cost several billion dollars, it's not clear whether any of it will happen before Trump's first term as president ends in January.

Continued here:

Nearly 12,000 US Troops To Be Pulled From Germany, Pentagon Says - NPR

The U.S. should value NATO now more than ever | Opinion | – The Philadelphia Inquirer

Posted on by

President Trump continues to attack our allies and cozy up to dictators, which impacts all of us. He has attacked Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Denmark, and Sweden. Yet, he has praised dictators such as Putin, Duterte, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, and Erdogan. Due to these actions, our allies are losing faith. The backlash is evident in situations like our European allies resisting American request to reject technology from the Chinese company Huawei in 5G networks. In an interview, the retiring French Ambassador to the United States said, The current president doesnt care about the West. He is a nationalist. He is America alone. This is not what we want for our country. It is our allies and alliances like NATO that deter mutual security threats ranging from Russian expansion to global terrorism. We cant and shouldnt go it alone as Trump urges.

Go here to see the original:

The U.S. should value NATO now more than ever | Opinion | - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Will NATO still be relevant in the future? – Atlantic Council

Posted on by

NATO flag flutters during the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Lithuania's membership in NATO in Vilnius, Lithuania March 30, 2019. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

As NATO faces increasing criticismincluding from US President Donald Trumpthat the military alliance is a drain on American taxpayers and no longer serves Washingtons defense needs, two former US ambassadors have come to its defense.

On July 21, John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center, and Alexander Vershbow, a distinguished fellow at the Councils Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, made the case for NATOs continued relevance in the face of Russian belligerence led by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yet China, not Russia, is the real threat today, argued John Mearsheimer, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, and Dr. Sara Moller, an assistant professor of international security at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

The four took part in a one-hour virtual debateIs NATO still relevant?that was moderated by Dr. Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute.

Absolutely it is, said Vershbow, a former US envoy to Russia and South Korea who also served four years as NATOs deputy secretary general in Brussels.

NATO remains essential to deter Russian aggression, which is a real threat. Its also a standing coalition of like-minded democracies that the United States can still call upon to defend shared interests and project stability beyond NATOs borders, he said.

Herbst, who was US ambassador to Ukraine from 2003 to 2006, noted that Europe has enjoyed seventy-five years of peace and unprecedented prosperity thanks to the strong transatlantic relationship.

Foreign policy is more effective, more realistic, and less risky when you have allies, and NATO is the premier alliance, he said, adding that not since the 1956 Suez crisiswhen Washington opposed the joint British, French, and Israeli invasion of Egypt following that countrys nationalization of the Suez Canalhave internal disputes been that dramatic. You also had major ally differences with the deployment of Pershings in the 1980s. Despite that, NATO was essential to defeat the Soviet Union, and NATO is essential today.

Herbst added: China is the big problem, but Russia remains a major threat. Putins activities are truly destabilizing; the fact is that he launched a war in Europethe first time since World War II. We need him to stop, and NATO is the way to do it.

Mearsheimer, however, argued that Putin, aggressive as he may be, is not Washingtons biggest headache at the moment.

It boils down to whether or not the United States should remain militarily committed to NATO, whether we should keep large-scale military forces in Europe, said Mearsheimer. My answer to that is no.

The professor, who has published six books on international affairs, said the Pentagons chief priority right now is containing China.

Three areas of the world matter strategically to the United States: Europe, East Asia, and the Persian Gulf. For the United States, the key question is whether or not theres a potential hegemon in one of those regions, Mearsheimer said. One of the reasons we stayed in Europe during the Cold War was because the Soviet threat was concentrated in Europe. The fact is, there is no regional hegemon in Europe todayor on the horizon, and indeed there is a regional hegemon: China. That means the US should concentrate all its military might in East Asia. That is what really matters. Europe does not matter very much at all.

Mearsheimer further argued that the US and its alliesand specifically NATOcreated the Russian threat in the first place, and that NATO, which was formed in 1949, has pushed Russia into the arms of the Chinese.

In November 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron told The Economist that NATO was effectively brain dead due to Trumps frequent complaints that many members were not spending at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense.

Subscribe for the latest on NATO

Sign up for updates from the Atlantic Councils Transatlantic Security Initiative, covering the debate on the greatest security challenges facing the North Atlantic Alliance and its key partners.

In fact, all NATO membersincluding Germany, Europes most populous nationbegan increasing their defense budgets following Putins 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Even so, Moller, whos written extensively on NATO, the Middle East, and nuclear weapons, said the thirty-member alliance could soon become irrelevant because it lacks strategic focus.

A club whose members cant agree on the purpose of the club [is] a club that is in trouble, she said. During the Cold War, it had a very clear and defined purpose: it was to deter and defend against the Soviet Union. Since the 1990s, NATO has been engaged in never-ending transformations. The result has been mission creep; it gets into the peacekeeping business, the counterterrorism nation-building business, security sector reform, counterpiracy, fighting illegal immigration. The result is that members want and expect different things from NATO. They no longer see eye to eye.

For example, she said, NATO member Turkey is purchasing advanced weapons systems from Russia while the French government is exploring rapprochement with Moscow.

This lack of consensus jeopardizes its future relevancy, Moller said, adding that the strategic deficit NATO faces today predates President Trump and his administration, so its a mistake to assume that come January 2021 if theres a change in occupancy in the White House, that NATO can just go back to business as usual. I dont see that happening.

Vershbow called for a new transatlantic bargain on burden-sharing, in which by 2030, Europe would pay for 50 percent of the critical capabilities now provided mainly by Washington.

This would equip them to handle most crises without US support, and allow us to shift more of our assets from Europe to the Asia-Pacific, he said.

Yet Mearsheimer quickly dismissed that idea.

Were not going to get any military assistance from our NATO allies in containing China. Its going to be done by our Asian allies and the United States, he said. The Europeans dont spend enough money on defense, and they have remarkably little power projection capabilities.

Mearsheimer added: I dont dislike NATO, but we live in a completely different world. For most of my life, Europe was the most important area of the world. Thats no longer the case. The distribution of power has changed. Asia is the area that really matters the most to the United States today. The question is, what can Europe do [about China]? What can NATO do? My argument is it can do hardly anything. We have to wake up and smell the coffee.

But Vershbow insisted that NATO gives the United States something that its adversaries lack: a team of ready-made partners. Having allies and institutions like NATO gives us an extraordinary advantage over Russia, China, and other adversaries, he said. There are often disagreements between the members, he conceded, and keeping the allies together is a 24/7 job, but allies usually find a way to resolve their differences, because alliance unity is too important to put at risk.

Larry Luxner is a Tel Aviv-based freelance journalist and photographer who covers the Middle East, Eurasia, Africa and Latin America.Follow him on Twitter @LLuxner.

Mon, Jun 8, 2020

On June 8, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg laid out his plans for a new period of reflection on the Alliances mission and structure over the next ten years. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated certain security threats to member states, including unabated Russian military activity, the spread of disinformation and propaganda, and the disruptive ascendance of China, NATO must stay strong militarily, be more united politically, and take a broader approach globally, he stated.

New AtlanticistbyDavid A. Wemer

Read the original post:

Will NATO still be relevant in the future? - Atlantic Council

ANOTHER VIEWPOINT: Defending Second Amendment right is critical – Daily Journal

Posted on by

The Wall Street Journal

By now all America knows Mark and Patricia McCloskey from the video showing the St. Louis couple holding legal firearms as they defended themselves and their home from a crowd of protesters trespassing on their property. A politically motivated prosecutor on Monday charged the couple with unlawful use of a weapon.

The felony count is because they pointed their weapons at protesters. Mr. McCloskey said he did so because he was scared for my life, and that of his wife. No shots were fired. Yet now prosecutor Kim Gardner is charging them on grounds they made the trespassers fear for their safety.

The good news is that theres been plenty of official blowback. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson tweeted that We will not allow law-abiding citizens to be targeted for exercising their constitutional rights. He has promised a pardon if theyre convicted.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt is working to get the case dismissed, noting that, in addition to the U.S. and Missouri constitutions, Missouri law recognizes the castle doctrine. This allows residents to use force against intruders, including deadly force, based on self-defense and the notion that your home is your castle.

Ms. Gardner contends that those who surrounded the McCloskeys were peaceful, unarmed protesters, and the couple were therefore interfering in the crowds First Amendment rights. It doesnt seem to have occurred to Ms. Gardner that the guns they carried may be a reason events didnt turn violent. I really thought it was Storming the Bastille, that we would be dead and the house would be burned and there was nothing we could do about it, Mr. McCloskey told KSDK in an interview.

Even if the charges are dismissed, or the McCloskeys are pardoned after being convicted, again we have a public official responsible for upholding law and order wink at a mob while treating law-abiding citizens as criminals. If police cannot be counted on to deal with mobs, its even more vital that law-abiding Americans are free to exercise their Second Amendment right to protect themselves.

Read more from the original source:

ANOTHER VIEWPOINT: Defending Second Amendment right is critical - Daily Journal

On the Hill with Denver Riggleman – Brunswicktimes Gazette

Posted on by

July 24, 2020

Friends,

This week the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Included in this years NDAA is a section Iauthored as well as two amendments that Ico-sponsored. The National Defense AuthorizationAct fulfills one of Congress mostessential duties: funding our military. This years NDAA puts our troops and Americas security first by laying the foundations for an Indo-Pacific Command Deterrence Initiative, continuing to reform the Pentagons business practices, and improving provisions to support our military families.

Passing the National Defense Authorization Act is one of Congress most important constitutional duties. It is imperative that Congress passes a bill to support the brave men and women of our Armed Forces and provide them with the resources they need. I am especially pleased that three sections I co-authored were included in the final version of the bill. Those sections will equip our Armed Forces with the skills they need, deter our enemies threats, andkeep Americans safe.

Thelegislation I authored was the Banking Transparency for Sanctioned Persons Amendment whichrequires the Treasury Secretary to submit a semi-annual report regarding financial services for state sponsors of terrorism and puts foreign banks on alert that Congress will be watching their dealings with human rights abusers and corrupt officials.

The first amendment I co-sponsoredisentitled"Limitation on Eligibility of For-Profit Institutions To Participate In Educational Assistance Programs of the Department of Defense. This amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act will close the 90/10 loophole and help send more veterans to college by stopping for-profit institutions from exploiting Department of Defense funding.

The second amendment that I co-sponsoredis the"Homeland and Cyber Threat Act, which creates a cyber attack exception under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) to protect U.S. nationals against foreign state sponsored cyber attacks.

The application process for student nominations to the U.S. Service Academies is now open. As a Member of Congress, I have the distinct honor of nominating candidates to four of the five U.S. Service Academies. Members of Congress can nominate candidates to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth Service Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a Congressional Nomination for an appointment. The honor of attending a U.S. Service Academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. For more information and how to apply visit my website. I am deeply proud of my own time serving as an Air Force Officer and am grateful for all our students who are willing to serve.

The National Zoo is reopening today in Washington. The zoo will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Earlier this week, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Congressman John Lewis of Georgia. Congressman Lewis was a giant who fought for civil liberties and spoke out against injustice. It was an honor to serve with him in Congress.On Monday, the late Congressman will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda.

If you need help with a federal agency, please contact my Charlottesville Office at (434) 973-9631. At this time all indoorSmithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. are temporarily closed to the public. Additionally, tours of the White House, US Capitol, FBI, and Library of Congress have been suspended to help contain the outbreak and prevent community spread.

See the original post here:

On the Hill with Denver Riggleman - Brunswicktimes Gazette

It Don’t Say That in the Bible – Salt Lake City Weekly

Posted on by

Religious freedom is where we employ the First Amendment to discriminate against you. See, here's how it works: You and your gay partner want us to make you one of our special cakes. But we can tell that you're gay, so we say you can buy the cakes on the shelf, but we won't make anything special for you because you're homosexuals. And the reason we can do that is because The Bible says no special cakes for gays. Still don't get it? OK, listen: We're your employer, and you get your health insurance through our company. But, we don't want you gettin' no abortions or female health care, so we take that out of your policy. The reason that we can do that is because our Bible tells us not to kill little babies or zygotes or whatever, and we got religious freedom. See, it's simple. Just to make things crystal clear: Let's say you work for our company, and then you changed from a man to a woman. So, of course, we fire you because you're disgusting. The reason we can do that is because President Donald Trump said so. And don't say nothin' about the Supreme Court or equal rights under the law, because none of that is in The Bible. And just because Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself," don't mean shit to us.

A Nation of Men, Not LawsTheme music: "Oh, say can you see by the flash-bangs bright glare, those camo-colored men shooting tear gas in the air? ..." We are not going to put up with a bunch of degenerate law-breaker, Antifa protester sonsofbitches in this country. No, sirree. Attorney General Bill Barr is going to see to it that everybody follows the law. Now, there are always exceptions. That's just life. Take, for example, Michael Flynn, the former Army general who was the president's national security adviser for 10 minutes before he shared secrets with the Russians and then lied about it. And, of course, there's good ol' Roger Stone. He lied to Congress about helping the Russians help Trump get elected and then tampered with the jury but, hey, what the heck, he and Donald go way back. But, stinkin' rats, like Michael Cohen, that's differentlock that fing snitch up! In this country, bad guys get what's coming, including those silly-ass, peaceful protesters at Lafayette Park across from the White House. President Trump is not going to let this country devolve into chaos. No way. He'll send his personal militia to those rotten cities, like Portland, where Democrats let people walk around chanting, "Black lives matter!" and spray-paint stuff. And if those little shits cry "fascism"screw 'em. Trump is the law-and-order president, and he has total authority to keep the country free. And the videos are campaign gold.

If Everyone Had a GunWell, you Second Amendment lovers, we don't have to tell you that the only way to kill people is with a gun (with knives you have to get too close). And buying guns is good for the economy. Think of it: All those gun manufacturers and ammo companies and their employees. But it's more than that. Look at the 670,000-plus cops in this countrynow that's a lot of jobs. And what about all the jails and prisonsmore jobs. Without guns, we wouldn't need half of them. Now, lately, the news media is reporting that gun violence is spiking along with the coronavirus. And they keep reporting that stray bullets are killing children and babies in strollers. Well, as Bill O'Reilly says: "That's the price of freedom." Think about it, how free would they be in Chicago without guns? From Jan. 1 through May 31, there were 1,127 shootings there. How can you possibly stay safe in a place like that without a gun? Everybody needs a gun. Some people complain about guns and say stuff like the Second Amendment calls for a "well-regulated militia." But who cares what they think? Last year, there were only 15,292 fatal shootings in this country; some 23,854 suicides by gun and 29,613 non-fatal shootings. Heck, COVID-19 has killed way more than that, so what's the problem.

PostscriptWell sports fans, if you think everyone has gone freakin' nuts, you are the master of the obvious. The tinfoil-hat crowd has again come into prominence. We are living in Stupid Times. And this has nothing to do with Covid-19 and whether children should return to school in hazmat suits. Sinclair Broadcast Group (which loves Trump) operates some 200 local TV stations across the countryincluding KUTV Channel 2 in Salt Lake Cityand was set to air a report describing a deadly conspiracy concocted by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who created the coronavirus and then sent it to China. This conspiracy was based on claims by Judy Mikovits in her viral video Plandemic, which has been completely debunked and banned by Facebook and YouTube. Sinclair bailed on airing its report at the last minute after Media Matters blew the whistle, and let loose a tsunami of scorn on the whacked-out broadcast company. You might have noticed, too, that the world did not end on July 22 as predetermined by scripture, according to Salt Lake Tribune writer Peggy Fletcher Stack. An LDS couple in Idaho said the event would bring the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. By coincidenceor notthe couple, Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow, are in jail facing charges related to the bodies of Vallow's son and daughter buried in Daybell's backyard. "[T]here are still hundreds if not thousands of Latter-day Saintsand other believers," Stack writes, "who are looking for signs of the prophesied apocalypse and insist it is imminent." Crazy? Oh, no. It's in the scriptures. Then, we had Trump's now infamous cognitive test where he aced identifying pictures of an elephant and a dog and was able to memorize and repeat: "person, woman, man, camera, TV," proving once again that he is a stable genius. Stupid Times, we ask you. And of course, we just can't get away from Monica Lewinsky, the woman who has made victimhood a cottage industry since her 1998 dalliance (that's the polite word for you-know-what) with Bill Clinton. Recently, Monica won Best "I Have a Joke" Tweet when she posted this: "I have an intern joke ... never mind." Hey, Monica, why don't you ... never mind.

Well, Wilson, what are you goin' to do? It's just a freakin' zoo out there. Get the band on the bus and get us out of here with an anthem for our insane times:

Something tells meIt's all happening at the zooI do believe itI do believe it's truemmmm oh ho ho ho

The monkeys stand for honestyGiraffes are insincereAnd the elephants are kindly but they're dumbOrangutans are skepticalOf changes in their cagesAnd the zookeeper is very fond of rum

Zebras are reactionariesAntelopes are missionariesPigeons plot in secrecyAnd hamsters turn on frequentlyAt the zooAt the zoo...

("At the Zoo"Paul Simon)

Original post:

It Don't Say That in the Bible - Salt Lake City Weekly

Ohio County Fair Mystified that Large Gathering Caused Covid Outbreak – Cleveland Scene

Posted on by

These were the incredulous words of Mel Crawford after learning that last months Pickaway County Fair is thought to have infected 22 people with Covid-19, leading to at least one death.

Theres no way a beer could do all that, protests the events director. Not even Michelob Ultra.

The Pickaway County Health Department would beg to differ.

On June 20, the weeklong fair launched its 75th edition, offering residents a respite of delightful Americana. Kids squealed shoulder-to-shoulder on rides. Couples bought funnel cakes and snow cones from maskless vendors. Families crowded into barns to see the chemically-enhanced livestock.

What officials didnt know was that a deadly pandemic had begun to assault the country five months earlier and that it was wholly unrelated to beer. Covids death toll now approaches 150,000. But since the federal government downplayed virus, many were left unaware.

Word of the pandemic could only be gleaned through newspapers, television broadcasts, websites, radio shows, podcasts, and all other forms of communication. That wasnt nearly enough to reach the majestic fields of Pickaway County, which sits due south of Columbus.

I mean, why dont they publicize these things? asks Crawford. We could have at least jacked up our liability insurance.

The unforeseeable circumstances have now led county health officials to deem the fair a super-spreader event. They note that fair staff and vendors didnt wear masks, and that condiments were set out for all to use, giving the virus a base camp to incubate and plot its offensive.

The health department further reports that hand sanitizer wasnt used by ticket takers, bleachers were crowded, and social distancing limited. Though the department offered detailed safety plans prior to the event, fair staff shouldnt be to blame, says Crawford. We werent really listening. They should have talked louder.

Von Cremeans disputes the Health Departments findings. Hes the president of the Pickaway County Agricultural Society, which operates the event. I dont know how they can trace it back to the fair, he told the Chillicothe Gazette.

That sentiment is echoed by Crawford. He contends the virus could just as easily been spread through witchcraft, since Jehovahs Witnesses have been spotted in the area.

Besides, he adds, rumor has it the lone death was that of Mark Koivu, who nobody even likes. He once borrowed Jack Slaters bandsaw and didnt return it for like three weeks.

Crawford admits to hearing something about a virus in the months leading up to the fair, but a friend told him it could be cured by drinking toilet bowl disinfectant or something like that.

Though Ohio Governor Mike DeWine banned further large-scale fairs on Tuesday, Crawford says there are no plans to cancel the Pickaway fairgrounds next event, the annual Gun-A-Palooza on August 22. The expo features men crammed into a barn for a day of free food, $1 beer, and gun raffles.

This time, however, there will be precautions. Attendees will be required to take a shot of Kaboom Bowl Blaster at the door. And if a Mexican beer distributor shows up, says Crawford, Well show 'em we take our Second Amendment rights seriously.

Read more here:

Ohio County Fair Mystified that Large Gathering Caused Covid Outbreak - Cleveland Scene

Songer speaks at ‘We the People’ rally | Greater Gorge – Hood River News

Posted on by

Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer spoke at a We the People rally, organized by the Klickitat County Republican Party, where he blamed the protests in Portland and Seattle and the law enforcement response on left-winging, spineless politicians that buy into changing our country to a socialist country.

Thats the master plan. Take it to the bank, Songer said to a crowd of around a hundred people at the Eddieville Motorsports Park in Centerville Saturday morning.

Standing atop a trailer bed donned in American and thin blue line flags, Songer followed speeches by Goldendale Mayor Mike Canon, in which he discussed how socialism really works based on his experience working for the USDA in post-Soviet Budapest; Pastor Tom Spithaler, who railed against the closing of churches by Gov. Jay Inslee, even after President Trump ordered that they open; and Matthew Hayward of Olympia-based think tank Freedom Foundation, who argued for right-to-work laws for public employees in the state of Washington.

At least a hundred people showed up to the rally. With social distancing, at least a few people in attendance wore masks. Agents of the Klickitat County Sheriffs Office watched over the rally.

Government will always find a crisis, if they dont have one, theyll invite one, Songer said. Whats going on in our state alone, in Seattle, and in our neighboring state, in Oregon, in Portland, is absolute criminal, absolute criminal and I can tell you there wouldnt have been a day in the old days that would not have happened, he continued.

Songer asserted the Black Lives Matter movement is a Marxist, Socialist, Communist organization and its tied to Antifa, and we all know what Antifa is, and these people are even paid to protest and do damage, Songer said. Theres a master plan to overthrow our government and change it from a constitutional government to a socialist government, he continued without any evidence to back up such claims.

Itll be a cold day in Hell before I allow that to happen and I know you patriots will not allow that to happen. If they come to our county and start that crap, Ill guarantee you theyre not going to like the results. They will be thrown in jail and I will use high-pressure fire hoses from the fire department, and well use every means weve got to put them down and put them down hard, Songer said to applause from the crowd. He then affirmed his responsibility for the protection of citizens freedom of speech.

If they want to come and protest, thats their constitutional right under the First Amendment and I honor that. I will not bother them and will allow them, and even guard them for their safety to protest, regardless what group it is, Songer continued.

Such claims that the national Black Lives Matter organization is Marxist, Communist, or Socialist (each of which having different meanings) have been appearing more frequently in local Facebook groups. One question to local candidates at the Goldendale Sentinel editorial board meeting earlier this month posed, Based on the stated goals and observable evidence of Black Lives Matter, at this time will you go on record whether or not you personally view this group as a violent Communist organization?

A highly edited video resurfaced with one of the co-founders of the original Black Lives Matter organization citing herself as a trained Marxist made its rounds in the national media a month ago and has been oft cited when assertions like this arise. However, Songer made no attempt to back up his claim.

Songer said he has been faced with death threats since the onset of the political unrest surrounding law enforcement.

Actually I take that as a badge of honor, Songer said regarding one email he received telling him to commit suicide.

Wrapping up the speech, Songer heralded his usual refrain about protecting citizens first and second amendment rights and concluded by telling the crowd pull your head out of the sand.

We are currently heading for war right now, and if we dont think we are, were missing the boat, Songer said. Theres a master plan to overthrow this constitution, to overthrow this country to make it a socialist country, and we are not any way, shape or form going to allow that to happen.

Follow this link:

Songer speaks at 'We the People' rally | Greater Gorge - Hood River News

This Republican reported Larry Householder to the FBI – The Columbus Dispatch

Posted on by

COLUMBUS OhioHouse candidate Nick Owens listened as soon-to-be House Speaker Larry Householder took credit for a dark-money funded advertisement that helped tipthe scales in another, close House race.

Owens, from Brown County, knew that something wasn't right when Householder said that he put $500,000 into the race. Thatincluded an attack ad that incorrectly accused the Democrat of abusing his elected position during a traffic stop.

"I understand campaign finance," Owens told The Enquirer about the November 2018 meeting."You cant just dump in $500,000."

Now,Householder, political adviser Jeff Longstreth and three GOP lobbyists are the subjects of a federal investigation into a $61 million bribery scheme to elect Householder as speaker, pass a $1.3 billion bailout for two nuclear plants and defend that legislation against a ballot effort to upend it.

Part of that effort included funneling money from FirstEnergy and other donors to dark money groups, which are not required to disclose donors, and political action committees.

One of those groups, the federal investigation alleges, was a for-profit corporation run by The Batchelder Company calledHardworking Ohioans Inc. Itspent nearly $1.5 millionon TV advertisements in the 2018 general election, supporting Republicans who would ultimately support Householder's bid to lead the Ohio House of Representatives.

One of those ads was the one in the Dayton-area race between GOP Rep. J. Todd Smith and Democrat Dan Foley. That's the race Householder was touting in his meeting with Owens.

Meeting with Householder aides

Owens left the meeting in November 2018 with the understanding that Householder could spend significant money to get him elected if Owens was chosen to be a part of Team Householder in 2020.

Owens said the meeting, held at a downtown Columbus office that he believed was run by Strategy Group for Media, included Householder; Megan Fitzmartin, an employee of Longstreth's firm JPL and Associates; and Bryan Gray, now deputy chief of staff for administration in the Ohio House.

The Strategy Group, founded by GOP political consultant Rex Elsass, ran advertisements supporting the nuclear energy bailout bill and opposing the referendum, according to allegations in the complaint. The Strategy Group said it was not their office and did not participate in the meetings.

Owens, a state board of education member and longtime assistant prosecutor, took another meeting at the same office with Householder's team in February 2019. The newly elected speaker wasn't there but Longstreth, Fitzmartin and Householder fundraiser Anna Lippincott were, Owens said.

Longstreth asked where Owens stood on right-to-work, the Second Amendment, opposition to abortion and other issues typical questions of a Republican being vetted for an endorsement or support.

"I felt like it was the final bit to say youre a Householdercandidate," Owens said. "Any candidate who is running for the Legislaturewho doesnt meet with the speakers campaign arm, it is at their own peril."

Owens learned months later that he wasn't picked as the Householder candidate in the race. Householder supportedAllen Freeman. Owens and Freemanlost the three-way primaryto New Richmond superintendent Adam Bird. Freeman came in thirdplace.

Bird's victory came afterHouseholder-aligned Growth and Opportunity PAC, which is alsolisted in the federal complaint, spent $437,400 on Clermont County races alone. That included a contentious one between former U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt and Joe Dills. In attack ads, Owens was accused of being too liberal.

Calling the FBI

Owens decided to call the FBI about what he suspected to be illegal spending in his and other races. Around that time, Democratic Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard was in the news because of a federal bribery investigation.However, Owens said hewanted to wait until after the GOP primary.

When that primary was delayed because of concerns about spreading the novel coronavirus, Owens made the call in mid-March.

Soon, Owens was speaking with FBI agent Blane Wetzel, who was months into an extensive investigation of Householder and his associates' spending.

Four months later, Owens appears in one paragraph of the 81-page federal affidavit as "Individual 1." His role was first reported by Local 12.

"I didnt do it for political reasons to help win the campaign," Owens said Tuesday. "I, as a longtime prosecutor, just wanted something to be done."

Correction: An earlier article incorrectly listed where Owens lives. He is a Brown County resident.

Excerpt from:

This Republican reported Larry Householder to the FBI - The Columbus Dispatch

California: The Legislature Reconvenes With Gun Control Back in the Budget! – NRA ILA

Posted on by

Contact your Assembly Member today!

Today, July 27th, the California Legislature reconvened from the extended summer recess. As you recall, just prior torecess, the California Assembly sent AB 88, the Public Safety Budget Trailer Bill that was riddled with anti-gun language, back to the Senate for additional work. Unfortunately, when it comes to gun control and the California Legislature, some things never change. The Assembly is expected to vote this week on SB 118, another Public Safety Trailer Bill with identical anti-gun provisions. SB 118 expands California's "Assault Weapons Control Act" and expedites the effective date for precursor firearm part restrictions.

Contact your Assembly Member today and urge their opposition to the gun control provisions contained in SB 118! Click the Take Action button below to contact your Assembly Member.

On Friday July 31st, the Senate Public Safety Committee will be hearing AB 2847.Click the Take Action button below to contact members of the Committee today and urge their opposition to AB 2847!

AB 2847, sponsored by Assembly Member David Chiu (D-17),revises the criteria for handguns to becertified for sale by requiring a microstamp in one place on the interior of the handgun (current law requires two imprinting locations).The bill also requires the removal of three certified handgunsfrom the roster for each newhandgun added. It should be noted that no new semi-automatic handguns havebeen added to the handgun roster since microstamping was certified in 2013.This legislation is nothing more than a means to reduce the options you have to protect yourself and your family.To read more about California's microstamping lawclick here.

Continue to check your inbox andhttp://www.nraila.org for updates concerning your Second Amendment Rights and hunting heritage.

Follow this link:

California: The Legislature Reconvenes With Gun Control Back in the Budget! - NRA ILA

Magpul Wyoming Governor’s Match slated in Cody this weekend – Powell Tribune

Posted on by

The fourth annual Magpul Wyoming Governors Match will return to Cody on Friday. Presented by Vortex Optics, the match continues through Sunday at the Cody Shooting Complex.

Here in Wyoming, we cherish our right to own firearms and deeply respect what this means, Gov. Mark Gordon said in a news release last week. Our Second Amendment, responsible and safe firearm ownership, and a true love of the outdoors all combine at events such as this and provide an excellent showcase for the rest of the world.

This 12-stage multi-gun match will feature highly skilled participants from around the country. Three Gun competitions like the governors match require shooters to hit a series of targets at varying ranges with three different weapons as quickly as possible. They are scored based on time and accuracy.

Event organizers have taken appropriate measures to protect participants and attendees against COVID-19, and virtually all of the activities will take place outdoors. Participation has been capped as well this year to coincide with public health orders.

The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, along with match director ISCOPE LLC, are bringing the nationally recognized multi-gun competition back to the Cowboy State.

Wyoming is fortunate to be able to host this national-level competition with such highly skilled participants, said Chris Floyd, manager of the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation. It also provides us with another opportunity to show off our states spectacular outdoor opportunities, while also boosting the regional economy with additional recreation and tourism dollars.

Go here to read the rest:

Magpul Wyoming Governor's Match slated in Cody this weekend - Powell Tribune

‘Loved her unconditionally’: Austin protest shooting victim remembered for devotion to fiance, racial justice – USA TODAY

Posted on by

Katie Hall and Danny Davis, Austin American-Statesman Published 8:57 a.m. ET July 27, 2020

Garrett Foster and his fiance, Whitney Mitchell, started dating about a decade ago and lived together in Austin.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Anna Mayo)

AUSTIN, TexasGarrett Foster, who was shot to death during a downtown Austin protest Saturday night, was remembered as a man dedicated to exercising his Second Amendment rights, stamping out racial injustice and caring for his fiance, according to family and friends.

The incident leading up to the 28-year-olds death began about 9:50 p.m. when a driver honked his horn and turned right onto a streetwhere there was a crowd of protesters, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said Sunday.

Several protesters including Foster, who was holding an assault rifle approached the car, Manley said. He said the driver reported that Foster pointed the weapon at him. The driver then pointed his handgun outside the window, fired multiple shots and drove away, Manley said.

Someone else in the crowd opened fire on the car as it drove off, Manley said.

First responders performed CPR on Foster, but he died at Dell Seton Medical Center less than an hour after the shooting, officials said. No other injuries were reported.

Austin police said they detained the person who fired the fatal shots, and he cooperated with investigators. He has been released, along with the second shooter, Manley said.

Witnesses who attended the protest told the American-Statesman that the driver appeared to drive into the crowd and came to a stop when the vehicle hit an orange barrier. They also said Foster had his weapon pointed down.

Manley would not say why the driver was originally at the scene of the protest.

In a Facebook Live video of the hourslong march, a cars honking is heard before two volleys of gunshots, a total of eight rounds, are unleashed. Several screaming protesters immediately take cover.

We are heartbroken over the loss of Mr. Foster last night. It is actively being investigated ... in conjunction with the Travis County district attorneys office, Manley said.

Foster grew up in Plano and had been living in Austin with his fiance, Whitney Mitchell, for about two years. Mitchell was at the protest in a wheelchair with him at the time, and the two had been to such events in downtown Austin against police violence for months, according to protesters and Fosters family.

Mitchell is Black and Foster is white, and issues of racial injustice were incredibly important to him, his family said.

Theyve experienced so much hate just for their relationship in general, said his sister, Anna Mayo. From day one, hes fought to end that.

Mitchell and Foster started dating about a decade ago. Foster enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in his late teens and had to leave for basic training two months after Mitchell had all four of her limbs amputated after she developed a medical condition that led to sepsis.

Foster worked in the Air Force as a flight mechanic until he was 19, when he was discharged to be Mitchells full-time caretaker, his family said.

That time when he was gone was so detrimental to both of them, because they were very much in love, and he had cared for her so well, his aunt Karen Sourber said. Hes been her primary caretaker ever since. He just loved her unconditionally and took care of everything.

Protesters said they got to know the couple well throughout the many protests this summer.

Whitney Mitchell attends a vigil for Garrett Foster on July 26, 2020 in downtown Austin, Texas.(Photo: Sergio Flores, Getty Images)

A lot of us havent slept I havent been asleep, protester Julian Salazar, who witnessed the shooting, said Sunday morning. Its been heartbreaking. A lot of us are angry, depressed, sad to learn that his (fiance) now is going to be struggling. The one person she had here in Austin, who was always going to be there for her, is now gone.

Foster often talked to protesters about his rifle, which he brought to the protests, Salazar said. Mayo said Second Amendment rights were important to him.

My brother would have never, ever pointed a gun at somebody, Mayo said. He always carried his guns with him. He had a license to carry in Texas were an open carry state. He always would exercise his right to carry, but he would never threaten somebody. He was one of the most kindhearted people that was the whole reason he was out there.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/27/garrett-foster-austin-protest-shooting-victim-devoted-fiancee/5516891002/

View original post here:

'Loved her unconditionally': Austin protest shooting victim remembered for devotion to fiance, racial justice - USA TODAY

Downriver Dispatches – The Wahkiakum County Eagle

Posted on by

Only Time Will Tell

A century from now historians and the curiosity seekers will look back and ponder at the things that have occurred in the last year between 2019 and 2020. This recent pandemic, regardless of ones opinion, has reshaped our generation and we have yet to see the outcome or aftermath. The one thing that comes to mind concerning some of this is when some have suggested defunding the police. In a perfect world that would be an ideal situation. In the real world the last thing we need is not having any type of police. Anarchy and chaos would ensue.

If there were no police to enforce the laws, then there would be no need for the courts because there would be no arrests. No traffic laws to be enforced would mean one would not need a license and the department of motor vehicles would cease to exist. Go one step further and empty all the prisons. All the correction officers would be out of work. Our own sheriff and everyone associated with the courthouse would be out of work. This would create an economic crisis unprecedented in human history. I studied Police Science for a year at a California college and I came away with a deeper understanding of the social impact. As I said before in an ideal world there would not even be a police force, but until then, we need to support those who are there to protect and serve.

Some may have thought that the police officer is a figure that existed since the beginning of development of our country. The United States police force is a relatively modern development that was initiated by changing concepts of public order and forced in turn by economics and politics.

The history of police in the United States can be traced back to early Colonial America when there was an informal police system based on for-profit. This was privately funded, and they hired people on a part-time basis. Some towns which used volunteers who signed up for a certain day and time were commonly called on a night watch. Boston first started the night watch in the early 17th century. In the religious atmosphere of the time, these night-watchmen were looking out for fellow colonists engaging in prostitution or gambling. The problem with that system was basic inefficiency. This was partly because most people were put on watch duty as a form of punishment. Many watchmen often slept and drank while on duty.

Night watchmen were supervised by constables. This wasnt a highly sought-after job. When local communities tried mandatory service it came down to who had enough money to hire someone to protect their property, and it was usually a criminal or a community thug. These early policemen didnt want to wear badges because of the bad reputation they had to begin with. With this in mind, they didnt want to be identified as people that other people didnt like. The term cop referred to a bad police officer who at that time could be bribed with a copper penny which would have been enough to buy a loaf of bread.

As immigrants from Germany and Ireland settled in urban places like Boston between 1820 and 1860, they clashed with the original settlers who came from England and the Netherlands. As the original settlers and immigrants had this clash of cultures, the night watch was rendered useless because the cities were ill-equipped to keep order.

Whether or not one loves or hates the police, they are here. Some are good and a very few are bad. The people have the right to self-protection afforded by the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Not everyone has guns, and there are some who should never have guns; therefore, the need for police and the sheriffs department is real. Until there is not a need for any kind of police force, it is our civic duty to not only watch over each other, but to also support local law enforcement. Only time will tell.

Follow this link:

Downriver Dispatches - The Wahkiakum County Eagle

Donors to Get Screened for COVID-19 Antibodies at Series of Blood Drives Next Week in the Coachella Valley – NBC Southern California

Posted on by

Amid a severe need for blood donations, LifeStream Blood Bank will hold four mobile drives next week in the Coachella Valley, where donors will also be screened for COVID-19 antibodies.

The drives are scheduled on:-- Aug. 5 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 72690 Parkview Drive, Palm Desert, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.;-- Aug. 6 at American Legion Post 739, 44200 Sun Gold Street in Indio, from noon to 5 p.m.;-- Aug. 6 at Cardiff Transportation, 75-255 Sheryl Ave. in Palm Desert, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and-- Aug. 7 at Second Amendment Sports, 38698 El Viento Road in Palm Desert, from 7 to 11 a.m.

Blood collected through donations to LifeStream goes to more than 80 hospitals in Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties.

Local news from across Southern California

During the first few weeks of the coronavirus outbreak, protective stay-at-home orders forced the cancellation of more than 80 LifeStream blood drives throughout Southern California, organization spokesman Don Escalante said at the time. He said about 5,000 pints of blood were effectively lost from mid-March through the end of May alone.

Anyone feeling sick is advised to not attempt to give blood. Potential donors must wear face coverings while donating, have their temperatures checked and complete a review of possible COVID-19 symptoms.

Potential donors must be at least 15 years old, weigh at least 115 pounds and be free from infections or illnesses. Donors must not be at risk of having AIDS or hepatitis. Donors under 17 years old must bring written consent from a parent.

Appointments can be made by calling 800-879-4484 or online at http://www.lstream.org.

Excerpt from:

Donors to Get Screened for COVID-19 Antibodies at Series of Blood Drives Next Week in the Coachella Valley - NBC Southern California

Nanomedicine in lung cancer: Current states of overcoming drug resistance and improving cancer immunotherapy – DocWire News

Posted on by

This article was originally published here

Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol. 2020 Jul 22:e1654. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1654. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lung cancer is considered to cause the most cancer-related deaths worldwide. Due to the deficiency in early-stage diagnostics and local invasion or distant metastasis, the first line of treatment for most patients unsuitable for surgery is chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Nanocarriers with the function of improving drug solubility, in vivo stability, drug distribution in the body, and sustained and targeted delivery, can effectively improve the effect of drug treatment and reduce toxic and side effects, and have been used in clinical treatment for lung cancer and many types of cancers. Here, we review nanoparticle (NP) formulation for lung cancer treatment including liposomes, polymers, and inorganic NPs via systemic and inhaled administration, and highlight the works of overcoming drug resistance and improving cancer immunotherapy. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

PMID:32700465 | DOI:10.1002/wnan.1654

Read this article:

Nanomedicine in lung cancer: Current states of overcoming drug resistance and improving cancer immunotherapy - DocWire News