#$330 Million Military Aid For Taiwan

[keywestlou]

WORLD LEADERS LAUGH AT TRUMP

When Trump was running for President, he frequently said the U.S. needed a President who was not a joke in the eyes of the world: “We need a President who isn’t a laughing stock to the entire world. We need a truly great leader, a genius at strategy and winning.”

World leaders laughed at Trump yesterday. Openly and publicly as he addressed them at the United Nations.

Laughter occurred two times.

First, when Trump said, “In less than 2 years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country.”

The laugh from all followed.

The second time involved the German delegation openly laughing when Trump claimed Germany was becoming “totally dependent on Russian energy.”

The man is a buffoon. He makes a mockery not only of our Nation, but each and every one of us. I am sure the thought of other peoples is….. What has happened to the American people?

Nothing like throwing gasoline on a fire. Trump did it with China.

The U.S. and China are in a major trade war. The trade war of all trade wars. To further aggravate China and let them know he was no pussy, Trump authorized a $330 million military sale to Taiwan.

China’s ire obvious. For the time, China merely said that the action jeopardizes Sino-U.S. cooperation.

I fear if the trade war continues tit for tat, what began as a trade war will turn into a military one. You can only push some one or nation around so long.

Our government is degenerating. The Presidency with Trump. Our Congress as it behaves. The Kavanaugh war a perfect example. The Senate is not distinguishing itself.

Civility is a dying art. It is like respect. If you do not give respect, you should not expect it in return.

Most in this country feel they are constantly being defecated upon. By the “elite.” Understandably so. Since the 1980’s, things have gotten decidedly better for important people and worse for everyone else.

Ted Cruz and his wife Heidi were having dinner at the expensive Fiola Restaurant in Washington. A group approached and began heckling the Senator and wanting to know his position on Kavanaugh.

Though I agree with the hecklers, I would not confront the Senator in the fashion they did. Not my way. On the other hand, these people have a right to disturb the Senator as they did. A restaurant interruption is public approbation in a small way. The elite should not be immune from the consequences of their behavior.

The confrontation small. However to be expected by the affluent these days. A people being jerked around will respond in various ways.

I have 2 observations.

First, what was Cruz doing in Washington? He was not required in Washington till thursday for the Kavanaugh hearing. He is in a tight race in Texas for his Senate seat. Democrat Beto O’Rourke is running a neck and neck race against him.

Cruz must be overly confident.

Fiola is one of Washington’s most expensive restaurants. The menu pre-fix. $90-$145. Wine prices off the wall. Not a dinner for two that most can afford.

An Irma update.

Irma occurred more than a year ago. Woeful stories continue to pop up.

A Big Coppitt family lived in a home erected to withstand a category 5 hurricane. Strongest concrete, hurricane proof doors and windows. The family opted to ride out Irma in their home.

The Blue Paper recently revealed a story untold. The category 5 home did not hold up. Irma came into the house.

The family reported the house began to shake. A crash was heard in the children’s bedroom. Two young children were in the bedroom with the door closed.

The door flew open. The young son came out with blood matting his blond hair. His injury required 10-12 stitches. The daughter at first could not be located. Later found unharmed.

The hurricane was in the bedroom. A window and part of a wall gone.

My podcast Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night. First talking show I have done in several days. My bronchial condition made it difficult to speak.

I spent half the show talking about David Wolkowsky. My friend, Key West’s friend, who died in his sleep sunday night at 99 years of age. A rare individual.

Enjoy your day!

WORLD LEADERS LAUGH AT TRUMP was originally published on Key West Lou

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Canada’s Trudeau Says Won’t Back Down in Dispute With China (Reuters) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday he would not escalate a deepening trade and diplomatic dispute with China but added that his government had no intention of backing down as it defended its interests.

Trump administration moves to end limits on child detention (AP) The Trump administration is moving to end a long-standing federal agreement that limits how long immigrant children can be kept in detention. The current court agreement now requires the government to keep children in the least restrictive setting and to release them as quickly as possible, generally after 20 days in detention. The new rules would allow the government to hold families in detention much longer than 20 days.

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No Greenland, No Visit (Foreign Policy) Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed interest in buying Greenland from Denmark, only to be rebuffed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Trump has responded by canceling a planned visit to Copenhagen in early September. His tweets left little doubt about the true purpose of the trip. He made it clear that he is postponing the visit because Frederiksen said “that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland,” adding that “The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct.” Danish politicians and commentators across the political spectrum initially saw the idea as a joke and viewed the cancellation as an insult that will damage a strong bilateral relationship.

French Yellow Vests Join Global Activists at G7 Counter-Summit (Reuters) Anti-globalization and climate activists have teamed up with yellow vest protesters and Basque nationalists ahead of a G7 meeting in France this weekend to confront a rich-poor divide they say is growing due to the “cynicism” of world leaders.

Ocean Viking Rescue Ship Awaits Port Access in Latest Migrant Standoff (Reuters) Two charities running rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea have said Italy has ignored requests to allow their ship to bring 356 migrants ashore, exposing Europe’s latest failure to deal with African migration.

Greece says it won’t assist Iranian tanker sought by US (AP) Greece said on Wednesday it won’t endanger its relations with the United States by aiding an Iranian supertanker sought by the U.S. but released by Gibraltar that’s currently in the Mediterranean Sea, believed heading for a Greek port. Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis told private Antenna TV that the 330-meter (1,000-foot) tanker is too big anyway to enter any Greek port and can’t legally unload its $130 million worth of light crude at EU refineries. The vessel can still enter Greek waters or anchor offshore, in which case Athens will “see” what it will do, Varvitsiotis added.

Urgency for vaccine grows as virus ravages China’s pigs (AP) Scientists are working to develop a vaccine to help guard the world’s pork supply as a deadly virus ravages Asia’s pig herds. Farmers have long contained its spread by quarantining and killing infected animals, but the disease’s devastating march into East Asia is intensifying the search for another solution. The virus hadn’t been considered as high a priority for researchers until it turned up last year in China, home to half the world’s pig population, likely by way of Eastern Europe and Russia. Since then, it has spread to other Asian countries including Vietnam, killing millions of pigs along the way. Though it does not sicken people, the disease is highly contagious and deadly to pigs.

Beijing appeals to US to ‘meet China halfway’ on trade (AP) Beijing appealed to Washington on Wednesday to “meet China halfway” and end a tariff war after President Donald Trump said Americans might need to endure economic pain to achieve longer-term benefits. A foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, expressed hope Washington can “get along with us” and restore “mutually beneficial” trade.

China ‘Will Not Sit Idly by’ Over US Arms Sale to Taiwan (AP) A senior Chinese officer says the country “will not sit idly by” if the U.S. proceeds with a sale of advanced F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan, and warned of other potential countermeasures in addition to punishing foreign firms involved in the deal.

Hong Kong police in standoff with protesters after sit-in (AP) Hong Kong riot police faced off briefly with protesters occupying a suburban train station Wednesday evening following a commemoration of a violent attack there by masked assailants on supporters of the anti-government movement. Also Wednesday, China said a staffer at the British consulate in Hong Kong has been given 15 days of administrative detention in the neighboring mainland city of Shenzhen for violating regulations on public order. The case is stoking fears that Beijing is extending its judicial reach to semi-autonomous Hong Kong. “The relevant employee is a Hong Kong resident, not a British citizen,” so the case is “purely the internal affairs of China,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily briefing.

Australia Sees Rush of Hong Kong Millionaires Amid Unrest (Reuters) Australia is seeing an increase in interest in its millionaires-only visa program from wealthy Hong Kong residents who are eyeing a safety net amid political turmoil in the Chinese-ruled territory, migration lawyers told Reuters.

No Rohingya Turn Up for Repatriation to Myanmar (AP) Bangladesh’s refugee commissioner said Thursday that no Rohingya Muslims turned up to return to Myanmar from camps in the South Asian nation.

Syrian Army Opens Corridor for People to Leave Rebel Bastion: State Media (Reuters) Syrian government forces have opened a corridor in the country’s northwest for people who want to cross out of insurgent territory to army lines, state news agency SANA said on Thursday.

UN Warns of Severe Aid Cuts in Yemen Without New Funds Soon (AP) The U.N. humanitarian chief in Yemen warned Wednesday that unless significant new funding is received in the coming weeks, food rations for 12 million people in the war-torn country will be reduced and at least 2.5 million malnourished children will be cut off from life-saving services.

A verdict in Cameroon (Foreign Policy) On Tuesday, a military court in Cameroon sentenced 10 Anglophone separatist leaders to life in prison--including the head of the separatist movement, Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe. Activists have called the trial a sham and worry that the harsh sentences will only drag out the two-year conflict, which has killed nearly 2,000 people and displaced half a million.

[islamicvoice-blog]

US approves possible US$330 million military sale to Taiwan

New post https://is.gd/nQAUAK

The US State Department has approved the possible sale to Taiwan of spare parts for F-16 fighter planes and other military aircraft worth up to US$330 million (RM1.3 billion), the Pentagon said on Monday.

US military sales to self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its sacred territory under its “one China” policy, is an irritant in the relations between the world’s two largest economies.

“This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security and defensive capability of the recipient, which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region,” the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

China is deeply suspicious of US intentions toward Taiwan, which is equipped with mostly US-made weaponry and wants Washington to sell it more advanced equipment, including new fighter jets.

Military experts say the balance of power between Taiwan and China has shifted in favour of China, which could probably overwhelm the island unless US forces came quickly to its aid.

The US$330 million request covers spare parts for “F-16, C-130, F-5, Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF), all other aircraft systems and subsystems, and other related elements of logistics and program support,” the Pentagon said, adding that it notified Congress of the possible sale.

The Pentagon said the proposed sale is required to maintain Taiwan’s “defensive and aerial fleet,” and would not alter the military balance in the region.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring what it sees as a wayward province under its control.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis during a visit to Beijing in June that Beijing was committed to peace, but could not give up “even one inch” of territory that the country’s ancestors had left behind.

– Reuters

[newstfionline]

Headlines

WHO Extremely Concerned About Ebola ‘Perfect Storm’ in Congo (Reuters) The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo could deteriorate rapidly because of attacks by armed groups, community resistance and the geographic spread of the disease.

U.S. Approval of $330 Million Military Sale to Taiwan Draws China’s Ire (Reuters) The U.S. State Department has approved the sale to Taiwan of spare parts for F-16 fighter planes and other military aircraft worth up to $330 million, prompting China to warn on Tuesday that the move jeopardized Sino-U.S. cooperation.

Britain and EU Must Reach Brexit Breakthrough in Coming Weeks: Germany’s BDI (Reuters) There must be a breakthrough on getting a Brexit deal in the coming weeks to ensure a transition period that would give firms legal certainty until the end of 2020, Germany’s BDI industry association said on Tuesday.

Swedish PM Lofven Voted Out by Parliament, New Government Unclear (Reuters) Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven lost a mandatory confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday meaning he will step down, but with neither major political bloc holding a majority, it remained unclear who will form the next government.

Aquarius Migrant Ship Cannot Dock in French Port: Minister (Reuters) France is not ready for now to let the Mediterranean rescue ship Aquarius dock and disembark dozens of migrants at the port of Marseille, France’s finance minister said on Tuesday.

UK to Favor Skilled Migration, No EU Preference After Brexit: Reports (Reuters) Prime Minister Theresa May and her ministers have agreed to focus Britain’s post-Brexit migration system on high-skilled migrants and will not offer preference to European Union workers, newspapers said.

Philippine Poll Shows Biggest Ratings Slump for Duterte as Inflation Soars (Reuters) Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte suffered the biggest ratings slump of his presidency in the third quarter, an independent pollster said on Tuesday, amid signs of public unease about rising inflation and the cost of staple foodgrain rice.

U.S. Accuses Myanmar Military of ‘Planned and Coordinated’ Rohingya Atrocities (Reuters) A U.S. government investigation has found that Myanmar’s military waged a “well-planned and coordinated” campaign of mass killings, gang rapes and other atrocities against the Southeast Asian nation’s Rohingya Muslim minority.

Major Powers, Iran Agree to Keep Trying to Maintain Trade (Reuters) The remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal said on Monday they agreed to continue work to create a special mechanism to maintain trade with Iran, including in oil, following the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 pact.

Honduras President Laments U.S. Aid Cuts, Eyes Role of China (Reuters) The president of Honduras said on Monday cuts in U.S. support for Central America would hinder efforts to stem illegal immigration as he welcomed China’s growing diplomatic presence in the region as an “opportunity.”

Palestinian Schools, Health Centers at Risk if Funding Gap Not Plugged: UNRWA (Reuters) A U.N. agency that supports Palestinian refugees said schools and health centers are at risk if it is unable to plug a $185 million funding gap needed to keep operating until the end of the year, the agency’s head said on Monday.

Pope Warns of Existential Ennui in Secular Estonia (AP) Pope Francis ended his pilgrimage to the Baltics on Tuesday in secular Estonia, warning that “existential ennui” can creep in when societies put their faith in technological progress alone.

UN Rushes Aid to Hunger-Stricken Yemeni District (AP) The United Nations and individual donors are rushing food to a desperate corner of northern Yemen where starving villagers were found to be living off leaves. Aid officials are searching for ways to ensure aid reaches those in need amid alarm that the country’s hunger crisis is worsening beyond the relief effort’s already strained capabilities.

UN to Caution Against Populism in High-Level Week (AP) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to paint a grim picture of the state of the world when leaders open their annual meeting on Tuesday, spotlighting the breakdown of trust around the globe and the need to counter unilateralism and reinvigorate international cooperation which is the foundation of the United Nations.

Venezuela Says Diplomats May Be Tied to Assassination Try (AP) Venezuela’s government said Monday that diplomats from three Latin American countries may have played a role in an attempt to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro, and it demanded the foreign governments investigate.