Looking Ahead to the Democrat Convention

Posted on July 20, 2016July 20, 2016 by Denise Simon

Want to know how to hunt #DonkeysAroundTown? << — No Joke, go here for the rules of the contest.

NYT’s: The Democratic convention, which begins in Philadelphia on July 25, will start with speeches from Michelle Obama, the first lady, and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who competed against Hillary Clinton for the nomination and endorsed her last week. Also speaking on the first night will be Astrid Silva, a Mexican immigrant and young so-called “Dreamer” who benefited from President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, policy.

The focus of the convention will then shift to families and criminal justice overhaul on its second night, which will feature a speech by former President Bill Clinton. He will be joined by the mothers of police-related violence victims, including Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.

On Wednesday, Mr. Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. will make the case for why Mrs. Clinton should take the baton from their administration. Finally, Mrs. Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, will address the delegates on Thursday night. More here.

***** For a photo tour of the movements included in the platform meetings, go here….any familiar faces or causes?

BOSTON (AP) – A Kennedy is being added to the list of speakers at the Democratic National Convention.

Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy III said Wednesday he was approached by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren about speaking before she’s expected to speak Monday, the first night of the convention in Philadelphia.

Warren has been vetted as a possible running mate for presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

As you read below…..what is missing?
Day 1 of the Orlando Sector meeting

***** Meanwhile the draft of the party platform is outlined below:

2016 Democratic Party Platform DRAFT July 1, 2016

***DRAFT – DELIBERATIVE AND PREDECISIONAL***

Version July 1, 2016 ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preamble ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1

Raise Incomes and Restore Economic Security for the Middle Class……………………………….. 3

Minimum Wage ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Labor …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

Equal Pay, Paid Leave, and Caregiving ………………………………………………………………………….. 4

Housing ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

Social Security ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

Retirement Security……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Postal Service ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Create Good-Paying Jobs ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

Infrastructure ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

Manufacturing …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

Clean Energy Jobs……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

Research, Science, and Technology……………………………………………………………………………….. 7

Small Business ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7

Youth Jobs………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

Fight for Economic Fairness and Against Inequality ………………………………………………………. 8

Fixing our Financial System …………………………………………………………………………………………. 8

Stopping Corporate Concentration ………………………………………………………………………………… 9

Taxes …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9

Trade …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9

Bring Americans Together and Remove Barriers to Create Ladders of Opportunity …….. 10

Racial Justice…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10

Racial Wealth Gap …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11

Criminal Justice…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11

Immigration………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12

Civil Rights ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 13

LGBT Rights…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13

Disability Rights ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13

Faith and Service……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14

Agricultural Communities ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14

Poverty / Communities Left Behind …………………………………………………………………………….. 14

Honoring Indigenous Tribal Nations ……………………………………………………………………………. 14

People of the Territories……………………………………………………………………………………………… 16

Puerto Rico……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 16

***DRAFT – DELIBERATIVE AND PREDECISIONAL***

Version July 1, 2016 iii

Protect Voting Rights, Fix Our Campaign Finance System, and Restore Our Democracy 17

Voting Rights ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 17

Campaign Finance……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17

Judges………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 17

D.C. Statehood ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18

Management of Federal Government …………………………………………………………………………… 18

Combat Climate Change, Build a Clean Energy Economy, and Secure Environmental Justice …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 18

Clean Energy Economy ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 19

Environmental and Climate Justice ……………………………………………………………………………… 19

Public Lands and Waters…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20

Provide Quality and Affordable Education…………………………………………………………………… 20

Higher Education ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 20

Student Debt……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 20

Minority-Serving Institutions………………………………………………………………………………………. 21

For-Profit Schools ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21

Early Childhood, Pre-K, and K-12 ………………………………………………………………………………. 21

Ensure the Health and Safety of All Americans ……………………………………………………………. 22

Universal Health Care ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22

Community Health Centers…………………………………………………………………………………………. 23

Prescription Drug Costs ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 23

Medical Research ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 24

Drug and Alcohol Addiction……………………………………………………………………………………….. 24

Mental Health……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 24

Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice ……………………………………………………………………… 24

Public Health…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25

Violence Against Women and Sexual Assault ………………………………………………………………. 25

Gun Violence Prevention ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 25

Principled Leadership …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 25

Support Our Troops and Keep Faith with Our Veterans ………………………………………………. 26

Confront Global Threats ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 27

Terrorism………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 28

Iran ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29

North Korea………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 29

Russia ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 29

Cybersecurity ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 29

Non-proliferation ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 30

Climate Change…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 30

***DRAFT – DELIBERATIVE AND PREDECISIONAL***

Version July 1, 2016 iv

Protect Our Values………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 30

Women and Girls ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 30

Trafficking and Modern Slavery………………………………………………………………………………….. 31

Young People ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 31

Religious Minorities…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31

Refugees…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31

Civil Society……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31

Anti-Corruption…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 31

Torture……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32

Closing Guantánamo Bay …………………………………………………………………………………………… 32

Development Assistance …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 32

Global Health ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 32

HIV and AIDS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 32

International Labor…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 32

A Leader in the World…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 33

Asia-Pacific ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 33

Middle East ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 33

Europe ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 34

Americas ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 34

Africa ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 34

Global Economy and Institutions…………………………………………………………………………………. 34

Soros and Black Lives Matters

Posted on July 20, 2016July 20, 2016 by Denise Simon

Soros is a dual citizen of Hungary and the United States and the term sedition comes to mind. But then too there is Barack and Hillary as a protector.

Related reading: Soros, Gore among W.H. visitors

“George Soros going to bat for Hillary Clinton”.

Politico. Jump up ^ “Priorities USA Action Contributors, 2016 cycle – OpenSecrets”.

Rush Limbaugh Exposes Who’s Funding Black Lives Matter Anti-Cop Protests

Who the heck is funding Black Lives Matter’s protests?

That’s a question many of us have often wondered. Who has time to protest for days on end in the streets, blocking off highways, among other activities? I’d resort to my default explanation, that they’re all unemployed with nothing better to do, but there are so many of them. Someone must be paying them to protest.

A caller into Rush Limbaugh’s show the other day posed that question, and he had an answer that probably won’t surprise you. To quote:

RUSH: The largest benefactor of Black Lives Matter is George Soros.

CALLER: Yes, sir.

RUSH: You know what that is?

CALLER: I do.

RUSH: Well, he’s a very extreme, angry and mean-spirited liberal who is doing his best to destroy capitalism wherever it is in the world. And, of course, since we are the greatest, largest capitalist outpost —

CALLER: He wants to collapse this country.

RUSH: Wants to collapse the country, exactly right. Don’t ask me why. My ability to understand these people in that sense, I’ve never understood why people want to tear down the greatest economic engine that has ever been, that enables everything they believe. It enables all their welfare benefits. It enables all of their whatever. I’ve never understood why they want to tear it down, but they do, and George Soros, the amount of money, I was stunned last week, I’ve learned George Soros has given these people $33 million in the last three or four years, $33 million.

CALLER: That’s a drop in the bucket to what’s coming in for Hillary’s campaign.

And he’s right. The Daily Mail reported back in 2015 on Soros’ $33 million in funding of BLM, noting that “Liberal billionaire George Soros donated $33 million to social justice organizations which helped turn events in Ferguson from a local protest into a national flashpoint. The handouts, revealed in tax filings from Soros’s private foundation, were given to dozens of different groups which weighed in on the crisis.”

Snopes rated the claim as “half-true,” acknowledging that Soros funded a network of groups, some of which engaged in Ferguson-related protest activities. They rated “false” the half of the statement about funds going exclusively to fund Ferguson-related protests, but that seems like a minor quibble.

…. And for some bonus entertainment, Donald Trump had a few brief comments about Soros funding BLM back in March.

Related reading: George Soros, Godfather of the Left Gives $550 Million to Liberal Causes

More Hidden News/Facts on Iran

Posted on July 19, 2016July 19, 2016 by Denise Simon

Here’s Hezbollah’s game-changing secret drone base

For years, the Lebanese Shi’ite militant organization Hezbollah has incorporated unmanned aerial vehicles into their arsenal, developing perhaps the most sophisticated aerial capabilities of any non-state armed group on earth.

IHS Jane’s has now used Google Maps to locate their airbase in northern Lebanon, according to an analysis published on April 23rd.

Hezbollah is arguably the Arab world’s most capable military force. The group is a direct proxy of the revolutionary regime in Iran, which sends the group perhaps as much as $350 million in aid a year, according to Matthew Levitt’s Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of God.

Hezbollah has an estimated 100,000 rockets — an arsenal that likely includes Russian-made precision-guided missiles. Its infusion of fighters is largely responsible for the survival of Syria’s Assad regime after four years of war against ISIS, Al Qaeda, and secular armed groups. Hezbollah has operated cells and smuggling networks on every continent, and it’s the only Arab military force that can plausibly claim a battlefield victory against Israel.

The airbase is alarming evidence of the group’s vaunted operational capabilities — as well as the depth of its relationship with Tehran.

The airstrip includes a 2200-foot unpaved runway, several outbuildings, and an antenna that “could potentially be used to extend the range of a UAV ground control station.” (It can be found at 34.3109624, 36.3492857 on Google Maps).

Business Insider via Google Maps

It’s located a few miles south of the town of Hermel in northern Lebanon, and about 10 miles to the west of the border wt ih Syria.

As the Jane’s report notes, the airstrip is too short to accommodate most manned aircraft, while its unpaved surface and mountainous surrounding terrain make it largely off-limits to planes that technically capable of landing on a runway of its length. That means there’s a strong possibility it was “built for Iranian-made UAVs, including the Ababil-3, which has been employed over Syria by forces allied to the Syrian regime, and possibly the newer and larger Shahed-129.”

The Ababil-3 is a small reconnaissance drone with limited range and flight endurance; it’s also been deployed by the Sudanese armed forces in the former Iranian ally’s various civil conflicts. But as The Aviationist notes, the Shahed-129 is superficially similar in design to the US’s Reaper and Predator platforms, and Iranian military officials claim that the drone can carry as many as 8 Sadid missiles.’ Read more here from BusinessInsider

Google Maps

Yes there is more to know about Iran, that country which is designated by the United States as the largest state sponsor of terror, and the one that the Obama White House normalized relations with and a country forced upon the global stage for economic development. This is the country that can build, is building a nuclear program that is the precursor to nuclear weapons.

Iran Deploys Hezbollah-Trained Afghan Sniper Brigade in Syria

DefenseNews: TEL AVIV — An Israeli intelligence source confirmed Monday that a new unit of Afghan snipers trained by Lebanese-based Hezbollah and financed by Iran is now operating beyond its northern border on behalf of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

In a July 18 interview, the source said the sniper unit – part of the Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade – is one of several additional groups of special forces that are being deployed in the fight against the Islamic State organization, also known by its Arabic acronym Da’esh.

“These Afghan Shias are battle-hardened and focused at the moment on fighting Da’esh. But we’re obviously following with interest any introduction of new forces and capabilities in that theater that may turn their attention to us when the time is right for them,” said the Israeli analyst, who insisted on anonymity because the interview did not take place through normal authorization channels.

The Israeli source validated reports earlier this month from Iran’s Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG), that a new group of snipers specializing in camouflage and concealment tactics was now operational in Syria.

According to a July 9 report, Tasnim acknowledged that the unit was part of the Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade trained by Hezbollah, which operates in Syria under the command of the IRGC.

Another Tasnim report from July 12, translated by Amir Toumaj, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in an account published by the online Long War Journal, noted that “Hundreds of special Fatemiyoun snipers have been deployed to defend sacred shrines across Syria and have joined Fatemiyoun combat units.”

According to Toumaj’s translation, “additional groups of special Afghan forces with advanced training in combat, commando capabilities, guerilla warfare, anti-armor missiles, shoulder-launched missiles, etc. are expected to join” Fatemiyoun ranks.

“The notable point is that the special Fatemiyoun forces have been trained under skilled Afghan instructors who themselves have completed training in special courses under the supervision of skilled Hezbollah forces,” noted the Tasnim report.

According to Toumaj’s research of Iranian media, the IRGC expanded the ranks of Fatemiyoun forces from a brigade to a full division last year; and some 380 have been killed thus far in Syria.

A recent study by Israel’s Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center noted that one year after signing of the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, Tehran has no intention of reducing its ties to Hezbollah, a designated terror organization.

In its report “Spotlight on Iran” for the week of July 4-17, the Center cited a July 12 interview on state-run Fars TV with Abbas Araghchi, Iranian deputy foreign minister, in which the official characterized the Iran-Hezbollah axis as “a priority… that could not be changed.”

“Araghchi’s remarks reinforce our assessment that no significant change can be expected in the quality and quantity of Iran’s support for Hezbollah, despite its effort to lift the international economic restrictions imposed on the country in recent years,” the Center noted.

It added, “Iran will be prepared to continue paying the diplomatic, media and even financial price in its relations with the United States and the West for continued fostering of Hezbollah as a military-political force and an Iranian proxy.”

John Kerry Issuing an Idle Threat to Turkey?

Posted on July 19, 2016July 19, 2016 by Denise Simon

Power has not be restored at the U.S. coalition airbase, Incirlik, Turkey. Erdogan conducted a raid at the base arresting top Turkish commanders there. Further, there are an estimated 3000 Americans stationed in Turkey.

Turkish NATO membership may be in danger

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Turkey, saying NATO will be scrutinising Turkey in coming days to ensure that it fulfils the alliance’s requirements.

Kerry said:

“NATO also has a requirement with respect to democracy,” Kerry said. Obviously, a lot of people have been arrested and arrested very quickly.

The level of vigilance and scrutiny is obviously going to be significant in the days ahead. Hopefully we can work in a constructive way that prevents a backsliding.”

A Number 10 spokesperson said:

“The National Security Adviser chaired a COBR meeting of senior officials this morning to discuss the situation in Turkey. Representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and the Department for Transport attended. The ambassador and embassy staff in Ankara also joined by video link.

They noted that the situation in Turkey continued to stabilise, but that we needed to maintain our focus on the situation and monitor any developments over the coming days and weeks, including close cooperation and dialogue with the Turkish government.

British consular staff are working around the clock to support and reassure British nationals in Turkey at the moment, with a particular focus on supporting those waiting for planes in Turkey’s main airports. Flights are starting to get back to normal and backlogs of passengers are beginning to ease.

Officials agreed that we should monitor the situation on the ground closely over the coming days and keep the travel advice to Turkey under review.”

The Turkish military coup failed on Saturday morning as soldiers surrender after many dead and hundreds arrested.

Turkish President Erdogan had made a statement on Turkish television using his iPhone and FaceTime, calling on people to take to the streets to oppose the uprising.

Crowds confronted the coup plotters and gunfire and explosions were heard. The president has now returned to Istanbul, calling the coup attempt an “act of treason” and saying the army must be cleansed. He told crowds the government was now back in control.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim ordered the military to shoot down aircraft being used by coup plotters, with a helicopter being shot down by an F-16.

17 Turkish police officers were killed in a helicopter attack at the police special forces headquarters just outside of Ankara.

Reuters reported that in early hours of Saturday local time, the coup appears to have “crumbled” as crowds defied pro-coup military orders and gathered in major squares of Istanbul and Ankara to oppose the coup. Reuters also reported pro-coup soldiers surrendering to the police in Taksim Square, Istanbul.

Hey Obama, Kerry, Rhodes, Explain this Secret on Iran Deal

Posted on July 18, 2016July 18, 2016 by Denise Simon

Related reading: Banking & Money Laundering Risk

Iranian financial institutions remain locked out of the U.S. financial system, and therefore cut off from much of the global financial system. International banks have been hit with $14 billion in fines since 2009 for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran. The U.S. continues to designate the entire Iranian financial sector as a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act and the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.

****

Iran urged to avoid further ballistic missile launches, to preserve deal July 18, 2016

Iran has been urged not to carry out further ballistic missile tests, which might be deemed inconsistent with the “constructive spirit” of the nuclear deal struck with world powers a year ago.

The call came from UN Under Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman, briefing the Security Council on the implementation of the resolution which endorsed the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

AP Exclusive: Confidential text eases Iran nuke constraints

VIENNA (AP) — Key restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program imposed under an internationally negotiated deal will start to ease years before the 15-year accord expires, advancing Tehran’s ability to build a bomb even before the end the pact, according to a document obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

The document is the only text linked to last year’s deal between Iran and six foreign powers that hasn’t been made public, although U.S. officials say members of Congress have been able to see it. It was given to the AP by a diplomat whose work has focused on Iran’s nuclear program for more than a decade, and its authenticity was confirmed by another diplomat who possesses the same document.

The diplomat who shared the document with the AP described it as an add-on agreement to the nuclear deal. But while formally separate from that accord, he said that it was in effect an integral part of the deal and had been approved both by Iran and the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, the six powers that negotiated the deal with Tehran.

Details published earlier outline most restraints on Iran’s nuclear program meant to reduce the threat that Tehran will turn nuclear activities it says are peaceful to making weapons.

But while some of the constraints extend for 15 years, documents in the public domain are short on details of what happens with Iran’s most proliferation-prone nuclear activity – its uranium enrichment – beyond the first 10 years of the agreement.

The document obtained by the AP fills in the gap. It says that as of January 2027 – 11 years after the deal was implemented – Iran can start replacing its mainstay centrifuges with thousands of advanced machines.

Centrifuges churn out uranium to levels that can range from use as reactor fuel and for medical and research purposes to much higher levels for the core of a nuclear warhead. From year 11 to 13, says the document, Iran can install centrifuges up to five times as efficient as the 5,060 machines it is now restricted to using.

Those new models will number less than those being used now, ranging between 2,500 and 3,500, depending on their efficiency, according to the document. But because they are more effective, they will allow Iran to enrich at more than twice the rate it is doing now.

The U.S. says the Iran nuclear agreement is tailored to ensure that Iran would need at least 12 months to “break out” and make enough weapons grade uranium for at least one weapon.

But based on a comparison of outputs between the old and newer machines, if the enrichment rate doubles, that breakout time would be reduced to six months, or even less if the efficiency is more than double, a possibility the document allows for.

The document also allows Iran to greatly expand its work with centrifuges that are even more advanced, including large-scale testing in preparation for the deal’s expiry 15 years after its implementation on Jan. 18.

A U.S. official noted, however, that the limit on the amount of enriched uranium Iran will be allowed to store will remain at 300 kilograms (660 pounds) for the full 15 years, significantly below the amount needed for a bomb. As well, it will remain restricted to a level used for reactor fuel that is well below weapons grade. Like the diplomats, the official demanded anonymity in exchange for discussing the document.

“We have ensured that Iran’s breakout time comes down gradually after year 10 in large part because of restrictions on its uranium stockpile until year 15,” the official said. “As for breakout times after the initial 10 years of the deal, the breakout time does not go off a cliff nor do we believe that it would be immediately cut in half, to six months.”

Still the easing of restrictions on the number and kind of centrifuges means that once the deal expires, Tehran will be positioned to quickly make enough highly enriched uranium to bring up its stockpile to a level that would allow it to make a bomb in half a year, should it choose to do so.

The document doesn’t say what happens with enrichment past year 13. That indicates a possible end to all restrictions on the number and kind of centrifuges even while constraints on other, less-proliferation prone nuclear activities remain until year 15.

Iran insists it is not interested in nuclear weapons, and the pact is being closely monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA says Tehran has essentially kept to its commitments since the agreement was implemented, a little more than six months after Iran and the six powers finalized it on July 14, 2015.

Marking the agreement’s anniversary Thursday, President Barack Obama said it has succeeded in rolling back Iran’s nuclear program, “avoiding further conflict and making us safer.” But opposition from U.S. Republicans could increase with the revelation that Iran’s potential breakout time would be more than halved over the last few years of the pact.

Also opposed is Israel, which in the past has threatened to strike Iran if it deems that Tehran is close to making a nuclear weapon. Alluding to that possibility, David Albright, whose Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security is a U.S. government go-to resource on Iran’s nuclear program, said the plan outlined in the document “will create a great deal of instability and possibly even lead to war, if regional tensions have not subsided.”

The deal provides Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for its nuclear constraints. But before going into recess, U.S. Congress last week approved a bill to impose new sanctions for Tehran’s continuing development and testing of ballistic missiles, a program the White House says is meant to carry atomic warheads even if it is not part of the nuclear agreement.

It also approved a measure that calls for prohibiting the Obama administration from buying more of Iran’s heavy water, a key component in certain nuclear reactors.

The White House has said removing the country’s surplus heavy water denies Tehran access to a material that may be stored for potential nuclear weapons production. But critics note that the purchase was made only after Iran exceeded heavy water limits proscribed by the nuclear deal and assert it rewarded Tehran for violating the agreement.