#stricter border security

[opencommunion]

"While largely toothless as a democratic body—shorn of true legislative capacities and having never developed a genuine transnational dynamic—the European Parliament is nonetheless an important bellwether to track the continent’s political winds. As the results of the parliament’s June 6-9 elections confirm, those winds are blowing in a bleakly reactionary direction.

... There are two principal causes for this. First, the fact that for many decades now European national governments and federal European institutions have legitimized — through emergency measures, moral panics and murderous border policies that have led to thousands of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean — the far Right’s defining claim that migration threatens the material and cultural survival of white European civilization. The far Right’s obsessive talk of borders and births, and its promotion of the myth of the Great Replacement, were enabled by the EU’s political center. Governments across the continent advanced anti-migrant policies on the grounds that stricter regulations would sap the foundations of extremism. But it turns out voters often prefer the original brand, choosing bellicose nativism over technocratic repression when it comes to the ​'migration crisis.'

The second engine of Europe’s turn towards authoritarianism is the EU’s promotion of fiscal austerity policies that have particularly impacted Southern Europe and Ireland, but which have led to welfare state retrenchment across the board. Beyond eroding livelihoods and exacerbating inequality, austerity also led to the rise of multiple movements to reclaim national sovereignty, almost all of which (after the punishment and capitulation of Syriza’s left-wing government in Greece) are now monopolized by reactionaries. While all of Europe’s far-right parties have played on this supposedly populist register, none have challenged the hegemony of markets and the rating agencies that dictate cuts to social programs. ... The real social malaise that plagues so much of Europe — overburdened and privatized healthcare, labor precarity, anemic social security, accelerating climate-related emergencies — is projected onto the far Right’s favorite scapegoats: primarily migrants, but also ​'gender ideology' and its alleged assault on the family as Europe’s moral and material core."

[percistent]

If Chicago residents are upset about illegals being shipped to their city maybe they should advocate for stricter border security and deportation instead of court dates 8 years out that no one shows up to

[simply-ivanka]

President Joe Biden has blamed Donald Trump for sinking a bipartisan bill delivering billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine along with stricter immigration policies, after Republicans signalled their opposition to the deal under pressure from the former president. The legislation worth $118bn agreed on Sunday by Democratic and Republican negotiators in the Senate could be the last chance for the Biden administration to secure new military support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s invasion — alongside other national security goals including aid to Israel and Taiwan. It also marks a rare compromise on efforts to curb immigration through the border with Mexico, including restrictions on asylum, which has been a rallying cry for Republicans and a political liability for Democrats throughout Biden’s presidency.

Biden has authority to close the border and restrict border crossings without action by Congress.

He needs the bill for one reason and that is to funnel money to Ukraine!

Trump 2024

[critical-skeptic]

Understanding the Southern Perimeter’s Republican Lean: A Multi-Factor Analysis

The political landscape of the United States is often discussed in terms of blue and red states, with certain regions consistently leaning Republican or Democrat. However, the southern perimeter of the continental U.S.—stretching from California to Florida—presents a unique case study. Despite cultural diversity, varying industries, and demographic shifts, this region generally leans Republican. This alignment, which includes border states with Mexico and those along the Gulf Coast, emerges from a complex interplay of geography, economics, historical values, and cultural attitudes.

1. Geographical and Climatic Influences

The southern perimeter is defined by its warmer climates, which attract specific demographics, most notably retirees. States like Florida have become retirement havens, drawing older populations from traditionally Democratic northern regions. This migration brings a demographic that often prioritizes conservative values such as lower taxes, property rights, and fiscal conservatism, aligning well with Republican ideologies. The subtropical to desert-like climate also shapes industries in these states, favoring agriculture, tourism, and energy sectors that lean conservative due to their reliance on limited government intervention and favorable regulatory policies.

Additionally, the shape and layout of these states play a role. California’s extensive north-south reach and diverse climate foster a mix of political ideologies, making it more complex, though its highly populated coastal cities tend toward Democratic dominance. By contrast, Arizona and Texas, with expansive rural and desert regions along the border, amplify conservative values centered on self-reliance and individualism, often associated with frontier mentality.

2. Historical and Cultural Factors

Southern states, including those on the southern perimeter, have a strong cultural legacy of conservatism rooted in a combination of frontier independence, skepticism of federal oversight, and a tradition of states’ rights. This tradition resonates with Republican ideology, which emphasizes limited government, individual liberties, and a cautious approach to social change. While California may stand as an exception due to its urban liberal hubs, the states from Texas through Florida reflect this traditional conservatism that has persisted over decades, reinforced by political institutions and local values.

Texas, in particular, embodies this “frontier spirit.” The state’s long history as a republic, combined with its emphasis on rugged individualism and suspicion of centralized power, aligns with Republican principles. Arizona, with its substantial rural population and similar desert environment, mirrors this mindset. The “frontier mentality” persists in these areas, where local culture values autonomy and self-reliance—traits that naturally dovetail with conservative ideologies.

3. Economics and Industry Patterns

Economic structures in these states contribute heavily to their conservative leanings. Texas, for example, is a major oil producer, while Florida’s economy is driven by tourism and agriculture. These industries often thrive under conservative economic policies, which typically favor deregulation, low taxes, and minimal government interference. Republican economic policies are seen as beneficial by stakeholders in these sectors, making the party an appealing choice for many business owners and workers.

Moreover, certain industries in these states feel the impact of immigration more directly, leading to support for stricter border policies and a more conservative stance on national security. Agriculture and construction in Arizona, Texas, and Florida rely heavily on immigrant labor but also face challenges from undocumented immigration, shaping local attitudes toward Republican policies that prioritize border enforcement and immigration control.

4. Proximity to the Mexican Border and the “Diversity Paradox”

For border states like Texas and Arizona, proximity to Mexico brings border security and immigration issues to the forefront of local politics. This isn��t just about geographical closeness; it’s about the daily reality of cross-border dynamics that influence attitudes toward national security, cultural integration, and economic impacts. The southern perimeter’s conservative alignment is often reinforced by a sense of “us vs. them,” a cultural boundary that shapes perceptions of national identity and sovereignty.

Counterintuitively, the high diversity in these border states does not automatically translate to liberal leanings. Instead, the influx of new populations can sometimes trigger a conservative backlash, as local communities respond to perceived cultural and economic shifts. This “diversity paradox” suggests that in some cases, increasing diversity can actually entrench conservative ideologies as groups seek to preserve traditional values in the face of demographic changes. California and New Mexico differ here, as both have deeply rooted Hispanic and Native American populations that pre-date current immigration concerns, leading to a multicultural identity that integrates rather than reacts to diversity.

5. Rural-Urban Divide and Population Distribution

The rural-urban divide is a significant factor in understanding Republican dominance in the southern perimeter states. Urban centers in Texas (Austin, Houston, and Dallas), Arizona (Phoenix), and Florida (Miami) tend to lean Democratic, but the vast rural areas and smaller towns remain conservative strongholds. Given that these rural and suburban regions often have disproportionate legislative influence due to gerrymandering and districting practices, Republican preferences are amplified politically.

In these rural areas, the appeal of Republican ideology is tied to a distrust of federal intervention and a commitment to traditional social values. The conservative emphasis on “law and order” and the right to bear arms resonates with rural populations who prioritize self-sufficiency and often feel culturally alienated from urban liberalism. This dynamic creates a political landscape where urban and rural values clash, but the rural-dominated districts sustain Republican influence at state and federal levels.

6. Geopolitical Significance and National Policy

Border security, immigration, and national security are not merely abstract political issues in the southern perimeter states; they are local realities. The Republican party’s stance on border control and immigration resonates with communities directly impacted by these policies. For residents in states like Texas and Arizona, issues of border security are personal and immediate, influencing their political alignment. The southern perimeter’s exposure to these cross-border dynamics fuels support for policies that emphasize strict immigration enforcement, contributing to the region’s Republican leanings.

Furthermore, the high visibility of national debates on immigration and security in these states places them in a unique geopolitical position. Residents of the southern perimeter often view federal immigration policies through the lens of local impact, which can heighten conservative stances on enforcement and sovereignty, particularly during times of political polarization on these issues.

The southern perimeter’s Republican alignment, spanning from California to Florida, is a product of interwoven geographical, economic, cultural, and historical factors. From the lure of warm climates drawing conservative-leaning demographics to the economic structures that benefit from conservative policies, each element reinforces the region’s political leanings. The combination of rural influence, frontier mentality, and proximity to the Mexican border creates a unique political identity that sustains Republican dominance.

While California and New Mexico serve as exceptions due to their own unique geographic and cultural compositions, the southern perimeter as a whole demonstrates the impact of physical geography and local demographics on political identity. This analysis underscores how politics in border states cannot be reduced to simple assumptions about diversity or proximity to Mexico; instead, it is the product of complex, localized dynamics that shape conservative values and Republican support across the region.

[izunias-meme-hole]

The Struggle of A Tyrant

There once lived a king, charismatic, almighty, and powerful. His country was secure, and his people safe. On his land, he had no rebellions, no revolts. His borders were secure, his military vast, his scientists consistently working on weaponry, and his people comforted. They wouldn’t feel hunger, they wouldn’t feel cold, and they never fell victim to any illness. They were safe under their sovereign ruler, their god, their invincible king. They were safe so long as they followed his rules.

The king's utopia was splendid, unfortunately for his majesty though his enemies didn’t see it like that. While his subjects may not have had any intention of betraying the king, that didn’t stop outsiders from trying to destroy what he’s built. Every single day of his reign, outsiders would consistently try to challenge his reign, all of them claiming that he was coming. “Fascist” they called him. “Mad Tyrant” they called him. Simple-minded fools, all of them. They just didn’t understand how secure his land was, how safe his people were. They simply had to follow his rules.

The matter of foolish resistance of outsiders was something the king could handle with ease and without worry. They weren’t of his glorious and orderly land, so he had no qualms about dealing with them. But when a small fraction of his own people stood against him, he was appalled. The king personally saw to the execution of these traitors, but this changed his entire outlook on everything. His people were safe, yet clearly even they could be infected by the drivel that the outsiders spill. They should know that their safety depends on them following his rules.

Over time, the king grew paranoid. He never forgot the day he executed those traitors, and the fear of his people turning on him grew and grew. He had made his laws stricter, kept a closer eye on his subjects, and left an unspoken threat of death to anyone who even considered turning on him. Meanwhile, outsiders still challenged the king, continuing to be swept away like flies. These insects weren’t an issue for his majesty, but the increasingly low morale caused by his paranoia was finally catching up to him. 

The people were now tired. They were angry, they felt unsafe, and they wanted to make their displeasure clear to his majesty. Droves of his former subjects stood in front of his castle, chanting words filled with so much negativity towards him, some of them were his own soldiers. They break down his doors, roaming through the halls where monuments of their king stood until they finally reach the throne room where they see the one that they once considered a worthy leader.

“In the name of the people of Zyzar, you are to be removed from duty, King Magnus Rex.”

The king, no… Magnus was sitting on his throne, bags under his jade eyes, his crown crooked, and his youth faded. He rises from his throne to confront these insurgents, but the will to actually fight them all, the will to actually eliminate them wasn’t present. Instead, he simply laughs before falling to his knees. He failed them. For all of his power, time, resources, and charisma, he would just become another mortal ruler that would be mentioned in any history book. He had been proven to just be another foolish and pathetic mad tyrant who tried so hard to keep his power, and he knows it now.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Joan E. Greve at The Guardian:

The House speaker, Mike Johnson, is pushing ahead with his plan to hold votes on four separate foreign aid bills this week, despite threats from two fellow Republicans to oust him if he advances a Ukraine funding proposal. Shortly after noon on Wednesday, the rules committee posted text for three bills that would provide funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The text of a fourth bill, which is expected to include measures to redirect seized Russian assets toward Ukraine and force the sale of TikTok, will be released later on Wednesday, Johnson said in a note to members.

The legislation would provide $26bn in aid for Israel, $61bn for Ukraine and $8bn for US allies in the Indo-Pacific. The Israel bill also appeared to include more than $9bn in humanitarian assistance, which Democrats had demanded to assist civilians in war zones like Gaza. Johnson indicated final votes on the bills were expected on Saturday evening, interfering with the House’s scheduled recess that was supposed to begin on Friday. If the House passes the bills, they will then be combined and sent to the Senate to simplify the upper chamber’s voting process. In February, the Senate approved a $95bn foreign aid package that included many of the same provisions outlined in the four House bills, and the upper chamber will need to reapprove the House package before it can go to Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

In a statement, Biden called on the House to quickly approve Johnson’s proposal, saying, “The House must pass the package this week and the Senate should quickly follow. I will sign this into law immediately to send a message to the world: we stand with our friends, and we won’t let Iran or Russia succeed.” Johnson will almost certainly have to rely on Democratic votes to get the bills approved, as House Republicans’ majority has narrowed to just two members after a series of resignations. Mike Gallagher, a Republican representative of Wisconsin, had planned to resign on Friday, but his spokesperson told Politico that he “has the flexibility to stay and support the aid package on Saturday”. Some prominent Democrats were already signaling their support for the package on Wednesday, increasing the likelihood of its passage.

“After House Republicans dragged their feet for months, we finally have a path forward to provide support for our allies and desperately needed humanitarian aid,” said Rose DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House appropriations committee. “We cannot retreat from the world stage under the guise of putting ‘America First’.” In a concession to hard-right Republicans, Johnson said in his note to members that the House would also vote on Saturday on a border security bill. The text of the legislation will be posted late Wednesday, Johnson said, and it will include many of the policies outlined in HR 2, a Republican bill with many hardline immigration measures. The House already passed HR 2 last year, but it was never taken up by the Senate. The Democrats who control the Senate remain adamantly opposed to the bill, so a similar proposal faces little hope of passage in the upper chamber. Despite that concession, hard-right Republicans were already expressing displeasure with Johnson’s plan on Wednesday, arguing that any Ukraine aid must be directly linked with stricter border policies.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is advancing foreign aid proposals onto the House floor for a vote despite threats from his hard-right flank (especially on Ukraine aid funding).

[learnwithmearticles]

Border Bills, Presidential Race

Kamala Harris is now the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election. Part of her campaign has included leaning into some moderate policies, such as less opposition to fracking and her recent statements about the border.

Harris has stated that she will be harder about the border than Donald Trump, the Republican opponent. At a rally in Georgia, she said she “will bring back the border security bill that Donald Trump killed”.

That Border Bill

Considered bipartisan, the bill Harris referred to was negotiated by Republicans with Democrats, then killed by Republicans after Trump urged them to do so.

By popular account, Trump wanted the bill to tank in order to force reliance on him to handle the ‘crisis’. If he can keep action from happening during the Biden-Harris term, voters might feel forced to vote for him if immigration is one of their concerns.

The proposed bill would provide significant additional funds for surveillance at the U.S.-Mexico border. It aims to increase search and seizure activity from Border Agents. That in itself is violating to individuals, as no warrant or probable cause is necessary for those searches. This allows agents far too much free reign to act as they please towards people regardless of their ‘potential danger’. Numerous videos online document the abuse people face from this.

The bill also calls for expanding the ability to detain people at the border, including funds for expanding custodial detention capacity. Following Trump’s 2016 election, we saw hordes of news about families separated, along with children and parents kept in cages, malnourished, and treated horribly. At least 37,000 people are currently in detention by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). At least 59.5% of those people have no criminal record.

The bill that Harris is announcing support for would worsen border conditions and facilitate Border Agents in keeping even more people wrongfully imprisoned.

Is there any good reason she’s doing this? Is there reason to worry about the border? What does it mean about her if there isn’t?

Immigration and Crime

No, simply. There is no strong evidence that immigration directly causes more crime.

A big concern in this area is drug trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security itself states that most fentanyl stopped at the border is being moved by U.S. citizens.

Additionally, Trump frequently refers to an “immigrant crime wave”. Statistics from places like New York disagree with that concept. While the immigrant population has increased in the city since 2022, the crime rate has overall remained steady, and even decreased for certain violent crimes like rape, murder, and shootings.

Another study found that, in the past 150 years, immigrants have been less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born citizens - 60% less, currently.

Evidence does not support the necessity of stricter border policies - especially ones that will only increase abuse towards those seeking asylum and do nothing to facilitate people becoming documented and successful working citizens.

As stated, Trump caused the bill to fail allegedly because it would force voters to vote for him if they want stricter border policies. Harris supporting such a bill completely weakens that attempt from Trump, making her a viable option for people concerned about immigration.

Again, as discussed, people do not need to be concerned about the border, but too many people still are. Considering the minds of voters, this switch from Harris to a non-progressive stance could be advantageous for her campaign.

(Of course, this is then hoping that she will not follow through, because such a law is unnecessary and harmful to people)

Additional Resources

1. Harris supporting border bill

2. Trump tanking the bill

3. The Bill

4. 90% of fentanyl from U.S. citizens

5. Detainee Statistics

6. Immigration and (Lack of) Crime

7. Incarceration Rates

[beardedmrbean]

Berlin — Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) emerged Monday as the winners in national parliamentary elections, marking a first victory for a far-right Austrian party since World War II. The Freedom Party, led by Herbert Kickl, secured 29.2% of the vote, topping the center-right Austrian People's Party with 26.5% and the Social Democrats with 21%.

The far-right win reflects a broader European trend of rising popularity for nationalist, anti-immigration parties, fueled by public frustration over issues including inflation, the war in Ukraine and rising migrant populations.

Kickl's party has drawn widespread attention for its anti-immigrant, nationalist rhetoric, with the party campaigning on a vow to seal the country's borders to create "Fortress Austria."

The Freedom Party has promised a crackdown on immigration, including the forced "remigration" of non-Austrian nationals and stricter control over asylum laws. Kickl, a former interior minister, has also been critical of Austria's participation in international sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

The party leader has promised to lead Austria as a "Volkskanzler," or chancellor of the people — a term used by the German Nazi party to refer to Adolf Hitler. His campaign leaned heavily on nationalist sentiment, with promises to restrict immigration and distance Austria from European Union policies on Ukraine and Russia.

The results of Austria's vote largely mirror the trend seen in recent elections in neighboring Germany, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made significant gains. The AfD won big in rural areas in Germany's state elections, taking more than 30% of the vote in the states of Thuringia and Saxony.

Despite its victory, the Freedom Party did not win anywhere near enough of the vote to form a new government on its own, so it will need to find partners to build a governing coalition. That is certain to prove a challenge.

Austria's other major parties, including the center-right FPÖ and the Social Democrats, have already said they will not form a coalition with the far-right, raising doubts about the path to power for Kickl's party. Without a coalition partner, the Freedom Party may struggle to build the necessary majority in parliament to for the next government.

The same situation is faced by the AfD in Germany, where the party's rise has been met with firm opposition from the established parties, making it difficult for them to participate in government.

The election results also highlight the decline of the center-right in Austria, which has been in power in various coalitions for the last decade.

Current Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who led the People's Party to second place on Sunday, saw his party lose significant ground compared to its 2019 results, as many Austrians appeared to blame the center-right movement for Austria's economic challenges and some controversial policies, including a temporary COVID vaccine mandate.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Social Democrat SPD also saw their popularity wane in the recent state elections in the eastern states of Saxony and Thuringia.

Kickl's ascent has not been without controversy, including allegations during his tenure as interior minister that the FPÖ was involved in the 2019 "Ibiza Affair," a corruption scandal that brought down the Freedom Party's last coalition government with the center-right.

But he has, since then, helped rebuild the party's reputation – much like the AfD in Germany, in part by positioning it as a defender of national sovereignty and staunch critic of the EU.

Both Kickl and his counterparts in Germany now face major hurdles in converting their electoral success into governance.

[miuarchiv]

Amt VI Conference Minutes, 19 Nov 1941

• " The best proof of how far behind we are in our work is the Russian intelligence service, which, for example, is well informed about our tasks and has even registered every single person to the Gestapo Referents. The Amtschef(deputy) mentioned what we have learned from other countries in this regard. Even though Russia's geographical position enabled it to secure and seal off its borders in a completely different way than we can in Germany, for example, it is still noteworthy how the Russians worked. For example, it is still unknown today what armies the Russians still have in Siberia. What the Amtschef(deputy) said and the examples given are by no means intended to be accusations, but merely to serve as a guide to our work. "

• Read the usage regulation of the Guesthouse on Wansee.(The SD Guesthouse was the Wansee Villa. Amt VI had 5 other smaller houses on Wansee. In 1942 Amt I made the regulation stricter after RSHA staff were found drinking during daytime in the villa, then all banquets held at the Guesthouse had to be approved by the Amtschef)

• Re-emphasised the requirement to wear uniforms at work.

• Other aspects: Cooperation with other Amts, development of information sources from foreign labourers, handling of cases involving former royal family members, the reports sent to the Foreign Office must be useful and coherent with previous reports.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

January 2, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

JAN 3, 2024

The new year has hit with news flying in from a number of quarters. 

At home, minimum wage increased in nearly half of U.S. states; it has been 14 years since the last increase in the federal minimum wage, the longest stretch since 1938 according to the AFL-CIO. NPR correspondent David Gura quoted Goldman Sachs’s chief equity strategist to note, ​​”The S&P 500 index returned 26% including dividends in 2023, more than 2x the average annual return of 12% since 1986.”

Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH) today submitted his resignation, effective January 21, to become the president of Youngstown State University. This shaves the Republican majority in the House of Representatives even thinner. With the recent expulsion of George Santos (R-NY) and resignation of Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the Republicans will control just 219 seats, permitting them a margin of only two seats to pass legislation when the House returns on January 9. 

The Republican House has been one of the least effective in history, and it has its work cut out for it in the new year. The first phase of the continuing resolution Congress passed in November to fund the government expires on January 19, ending funding for transportation, housing, energy, agriculture, and veterans’ affairs. The second phase expires on February 2. Much of the 2018 Farm Bill that covers food and farm aid expired in 2023. As of yesterday, January 1, the items usually covered in farm bills fall under a hodge-podge of fixes, with some old provisions from the 1930s and 1940s going back into force.

Also outstanding is the measure to provide supplemental funding for Israel, Ukraine, and the southern border between the U.S. and Mexico, as well as providing humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. 

House Republicans refused to pass that measure unless it included their own extreme anti-immigration measures, but they have refused to participate in efforts to hash out legislation, clearly preferring to keep the issue hot to use against the Democrats in 2024. Since President Joe Biden took office, he and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have asked Congress for additional funding for Customs and Border Patrol officers and additional immigration courts, but despite Republicans’ own demand for such legislation, House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) wrote to Biden in December demanding that he impose stricter immigration rules and build a border wall through executive action. Today, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) echoed the idea that Biden, not Congress, should deal with the border.

Meanwhile, Emily Brooks and Rebecca Beitsch of The Hill reported today that about 60 House Republicans are planning to visit the border in Texas to emphasize the issue. They are also preparing to impeach Mayorkas on the grounds that he has failed to meet the requirements of the Secure Fence Act, “which defines operational control of the border as a status in which not a single person or piece of contraband improperly enters the country.” As Brooks and Beitsch point out, “not a single secretary of Homeland Security has met that standard of perfection.” House Republicans plan to hold hearings on impeaching Mayorkas, but Homeland Security Committee chair Mark Green (R-TN) has suggested to the Fox News Channel that the articles of impeachment are already written. 

At the intersection of domestic and foreign affairs, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), whom federal prosecutors have already indicted for using his office to work for Egypt, was charged again today with using his political influence to work for the government of Qatar. This is a big deal: at the time, Menendez was the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a key position in the U.S. government. Two Republican operatives are pleading guilty to evading lobbying laws in their own work for Qatar; their activities appear to have been much more limited than Menendez’s. 

The turn of the new year has also produced lots of news in foreign affairs. 

On February 4, 2021, just after Secretary of State Antony Blinken took office, Biden spoke at the State Department and said “the message I want the world to hear today” is that “America is back. Diplomacy is back at the center of our foreign policy.” In a New York Times article from December 31, Peter Baker, Edward Wong, Julian E. Barnes, and Isabel Kershner emphasize that Biden and his team have been engaged constantly in diplomacy with Israel, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Since the October 7, 2023, attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Israel, Biden has spoken with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu 14 times and visited Israel; Blinken has traveled to the region three times and visited Israel five times. 

On December 22, in the Christian Science Monitor, Arab political journalist Taylor Luck and correspondent Fatima AbdulKarim reported that Arab Gulf states, Egypt, Jordan, the U.S., and the European Union have created “[a] massive postwar reconstruction plan…for the besieged Gaza Strip.” The plan is to “rebuild the coastal strip, unite and overhaul Palestinian governance, and create a Palestinian security force in Gaza to ensure Palestinian and Israeli security.” 

Arab diplomats insist the reconstruction of southern Gaza, including alleviating suffering, rebuilding housing and infrastructure, and restoring jobs, must be “rapid”; Gulf states have set $3 billion a year for ten years as the first budget. The plan calls for a “revamped and revitalized” Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza and the West Bank with current president Mahmoud Abbas as a figurehead and an apolitical unity government running affairs. 

The plan is still developing, but already the main obstacles are Israel’s governing coalition, led by Netanyahu, who refuses the ideas of a two-state solution and of a Palestinian Authority in charge of Gaza, and Hamas, which Gulf states as well as the U.S. reject as a participant in the future governance of Gaza. Other Iran-backed militias also oppose such a solution. 

From the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war, the Biden administration has been very clear that its first goal was to make sure the conflict didn’t spread, with Lebanon’s Iran-allied Hezbollah and other proxy militias joining in fully. Biden immediately sent two carrier groups to the region and promised “to move in additional assets as needed.” On October 10 he warned: “Let me say again—to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Don’t. Don’t.”

The New York Times piece by Baker, Wong, Barnes, and Kershner revealed that Biden and his national security team, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security advisor Jake Sullivan, also warned Netanyahu against launching a preemptive strike on Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah have been attacking each other with drones, missiles, and air strikes along the countries’ border. 

Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen have attacked ships in the Red Sea, which is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, handling about 12% of global trade and about 8.2 million barrels of crude oil and oil products every day. On December 31, four small boats attacked the Hangzhou, a container ship from the Danish shipping giant Maersk sailing under a Singapore flag, and then fired on the U.S. Navy helicopters that responded to the Hangzhou’s distress call. The helicopter crews sank three of the boats, killing their crews; the fourth fled. 

Today, Iran sent a naval frigate to the Red Sea, and Maersk announced it would stop using the Red Sea route until further notice. Hezbollah media said that an Israeli drone strike in Beirut, Lebanon, killed Saleh Arouri, the deputy political head of Hamas and a founder of its military wing. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate.

Also today, in response to calls from Israeli cabinet members for the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza, the U.S. State Department issued a “rejection” of both the language and the idea. “We have been clear, consistent, and unequivocal that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel. That is the future we seek, in the interests of Israelis and Palestinians, the surrounding region, and the world.”

And in today’s Washington Post, Lebanon’s former prime minister Fouad Siniora and former Lebanese lawmaker Basem Shabb noted that “[d]espite the ferocity of the bombing and the great loss of innocent civilian lives in Gaza, the conflict remains largely contained to an Israeli-Palestinian confrontation—and more specifically, is broadly understood in the Arab world to be a conflict with Hamas, a non-state actor,” but warned the conflict must not spread. They noted that in November, “[i]n a first, 57 Arab and Islamic countries…called for a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on a two-state solution,” the same concept embraced by the Biden administration.    

“In response to Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, the Arab world responded with denunciation—but, more importantly, with diplomacy. No military threats were issued by any of the Arab states toward Israel,” the Lebanese lawmakers pointed out. They urged Israel to embrace the two-state solution “and, in doing so, usher in a new era in the Middle East.”

Lots of pieces moving around the board on this second day of January 2024.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[pols47003]

President Biden signed an executive order Tuesday that would allow for stricter constraints on immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border. Under the order, any immigrants crossing the border that do not express a (subjective) amount of 'fear of returning to their home country' could be immediately removed by border patrol. The order would also impose even stricter standards on acceptable asylum claims processed at official ports of entry.

The ACLU has already expressed plans to sue the Biden administration over the executive order, challenging its legality under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The ACLU successfully sued the Trump administration for a nearly identical ban on seeking asylum, which was blocked by a Federal District Court in 2019. While the Biden administration claims the order is legal because it protects national security interests, refugees have the widely recognized legal right to seek asylum at any point of a border, not just ports of entry, both in US law, international law, and moral human rights standards. The bipartisan effort to limit legal immigration is both ineffective at actually solving the humanitarian problems at the southern border and contrary to our moral responsibility to grant asylum.

[pidgebeats]

jason montanez - tlou oc

"Go ahead, Cass," he said, eyes sorrowful. "Just kill me. I was one of them, remember? It'll resonate with you. Maybe you can keep going after this,"

trigger warning: suicide (kind of?), cults, religious trauma/homophobia

Jason was born to a strange mother and a devout Christian father before the apocalypse. His mother read the Bible like a thriller book, and through that, she formed her own ideals.

When the apocalypse began, Jason's mother saw the perfect opportunity: she took her son and husband into the woods and lived off the land.

After she formulated her beliefs, she formed the Children of Judas: a heavily religious cult which focused on reincarnation, but in a different way to other religions: they wanted reincarnation, except they thought they'd get it via betrayal, like how Judas’ betrayal led to Jesus’ resurrection, in a way.

As the cult began to boom in popularity, his mother began caring less about what he did, so he resorted to kissing boys, sure his mother would never find out. She did, one day, and kicked him out of his settlement, sending him off to a stricter one.

Jason reached 25, the age he was expected to marry and help bear children, but he ran away the day of his ceremony, refusing to marry the woman he was supposed to. He was punished horrifically for this, and it was eventually decided he would be forced to marry one of the elders, and give her children instead.

He did not want this, but the camps were so scattered about that he was sure to run into another one and be in the same situation, so he stayed. He decided he'd kill himself the day after he was forced to marry the woman.

One day, very close to the wedding, a commotion sprung up. There was an ambush called, and Jason finally decided this was time to escape. He was about to breach the walls when he saw a big torn up shredded hole in one log of wood, as if someone had hacked at it with a knife, and he spun around to see the sole of a shoe poking out of a bush.

His eyes widened and, without thinking, he grabbed at the t-shirt of the person hiding in the bush, and had his arm awfully scratched up as she slid out from under the bush. She had curly brown hair, olive skin, and green eyes, but she looked crazed, eyes wide and hair frazzled and blood over her shirt.

He begged her to help him run away and she did, and she saved him from being attacked by a cult member. That must have solidified something for her, so she took him along with her.

He also asked if she could take down his home settlement, finally wanting to be free of the ties of his mother, but the girl, who he had learned was named Cassidy, was attacked and taken away by the cult members: his settlement had always had much better security.

He had to make his way through several of his old peers to get to her. The only weapons he had were an axe and a hunting pistol, but he made do with them. He did not know why he wanted to save Cassidy. She was his only way out, wasn't she?

He found Cassidy, confronted by a woman, locked in a cell they had only used for interrogation, and he did not think: he simply shot the woman. It was only after she fell to the ground and breathed her last breath that he realised it was his mother, and he had murdered her.

He quickly left to Seattle with Cassidy and, upon finding Star, he distrusted the girl, but slowly bonded with her. He was horribly upset about not joining the Washington Liberation Front, but maybe Jackson would be better.

As he, Cassidy, and Star were travelling through Montana, they ran into a horde: Jason was bitten, but he did not tell Cassidy or Star this until they reached the Wyoming border. He simply grabbed Cassidy's gun and begged her to shoot him. She did not want to, sobbing and begging him to just crawl off and die somewhere scenic, but he refused.

She finally obliged and, with one final bullet-sound reminiscent of when he had shot his own mother, he was gone.

Cassidy and Star burnt his body and scattered it somewhere nice in Jackson, which Cassidy does not visit, but Star does every single day.

[bedbellyandbeyond]

Auntie Karla

(Story Post)

Korsy shook his head. “Don't mention it. Anything for family.” They arrived at his aunt's house around noon the next day. She had a flat in Stockholm, a lovely space with plants and a couple free roaming rabbits. She greeted Korsy and Dusty sweetly, suggesting they come in and sit on the balcony. “You have a beautiful home,” Dusty said as he petted a bunny that had come to sniff at his feet. “Ah, thank you, kära,” Karla said. As a full-blooded dark elf, she had long light pink hair with a halo of braids, and a darker and colder complexion than Korsy. Her eyes were a tender gold colour, stormy with worry. She sat down with them, poised like royalty. “Your trip wasn't too bad, was it?”

“No, no,” Korsy said, although they had a few bumps along the way with such sudden travel booking. “Don't concern yourself with us anyhow. I came to see if I can help. Can you explain to me again how my cousin got into this mess?” Karla sighed, her fingers gripping her teacup. “My son, you know, he is so naïve sometimes… As he told me, he was just trying to help these people, but they are from Mörkret.” “The Dark Realm?” Korsy asked. “He found people in the Dark Realm? There are only monsters there.” “He said he found elves,” Karla said. “Not like us but he believes they are. He believed they belong here with us, but they were all detained at the border. Even my Asger.” Korsy frowned. “And my uncle can't have him released?” “It is his father that wants him there,” Karla said, with acidity in her voice. “He thinks he needs to punish him, make an example of him. But you know your uncle. He is a cruel unreasonable man.” Korsy nodded slowly, a dark shadow cast across his face. He patted his aunt's hand. “Good thing you left when you did.” Karla pouted, her expression melancholic. “I feel so foolish ever falling for such a man. I should have seen through him, but he used to be so charming and warm. It is like his heart was frozen, ever since…” She trailed off, glancing at Korsy then back to her tea. Dusty noticed Korsy stiffen a little and could only wonder what she could have been referring to. He dared not pry for now though. “Anyway, Asger asked me to contact you,” Karla continued. “He believed that you could help him. I do not know what his plan was, but if there is something you can do, I would be very grateful.” “I don't know…” Korsy leaned back and rubbed his neck. “I've never bailed anyone out of elf jail before… But perhaps, if I met these people my cousin was talking about, then I might see why he’s so keen on protecting them.” “So, you will go?” Karla asked. “I can provide you safe enough passage there. They will not bother you.” Korsy shook his head. “I don't care about their remarks, I know what my family thinks of half elves like me… I'm more concerned about what finding help from me might do to my cousin's reputation.” “Do not worry about anything like that, you know your cousin thinks well of you,” Karla said. “He would not ask if he did not trust you.” “I couldn't break his trust, could I?” Korsy stood up and stretched. “Should we get to it, then?” “Oh, so eager! You remind me so much of your mother,” Karla said, chuckling to herself. “But we will have to wait until late tonight. Security has gotten stricter. No one can enter the city by day.” “Really? That's so unnecessary. I imagine this is my uncle's doing as well?” Korsy assumed. “You imagine correctly. But you do not need to worry, you and your friend can stay and have dinner with me, and then we will go,” Karla said. “Now please, you must properly introduce me. This poor thing has been sitting here so patiently listening to me lament. Who is this handsome man?” “Sorry. This is Dusty,” Korsy introduced. “He is my—” “Are you Elliot's boyfriend?” Karla asked expectantly. “Oh, for now, we're just work partners,” Dusty said, offering a hand and playing up the charm. He turned his head to Korsy, smiling devilishly. “Elliot?” Korsy just rolled his eyes. “I'm training him. He's new. We happened to be in Prague when you called.” “Oh, that's too bad. Your mother would've loved to know you found someone special,” Karla said. “I'm sure she's watching and waiting for you to find such happiness.” Korsy frowned. “I am doing perfectly well on my own.” “Well, I hear Elliot does have his eyes on someone, but he won't tell me,” Dusty gossiped. Korsy shot him a glared. “Oh, really?” Karla patted Korsy's arm. “That makes your tant feel better. You're getting older, you know, I don't want to worry you're alone.” “I'm really fine,” Korsy said. “And I'm not alone. I have friends. But that's it.” “Sure, sure,” Karla brushed off. “I understand. You kids like to keep things so secret until you're sure.” “One second, I'm ‘getting older' and now I'm a kid,” Korsy complained. His aunt caressed his cheek. “You know you'll always be little Elliot to your family. But you are of course an adult and you should really start thinking about settling down.” “Karla, could you please call me Korsy?” Korsy asked. “It's tradition you know.” “Ah, I'm so sorry,” Karla apologised, withdrawing her hand, only to place it on his arm. “I forgot, you know. And your mother gave you such a beautiful name. I wouldn't want to forget it. But you want to be Korsy, you are Korsy.” “Thank you,” Korsy said, patting her hand. She smiled and sat back. “Now, that Korsy name is tradition for your father's family. Don't you want to pass it down? You could become…what's the whole name?” “Korsgaard,” Korsy answered, getting uncomfortable. “But Karla, I'm not—” “You could be Korsgaard with your own little Korsy,” she said. “Yeah,” he folded. “Maybe one day. But not right now.” “Of course, of course.” “Auntie, I've never been to Stockholm before. Is there anywhere I should see before we leave tonight?” Dusty interrupted. “Oh, this is your first visit? Of course!” Karla was all grins. “I will give you the tour. There is a lot to see so we should get to it!” As his aunt got up to put their teacups away, Korsy gave Dusty an appreciative glance. “Thank you for that,” Korsy said. “Don't mention it, Elliot,” Dusty teased. “Don't you start too.” “I won't, I won't.”

[aeoexpert]

ABOUT AEO AND SEO

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SEO EXPERT near NAPLES, FL

[dmagedgoods]

Hello, your majesty! I know you've only recently taken the throne in Mendev, but I was curious if you had any particular policy plans you plan on working toward. How do you want your rule of the country to be remembered?

“An excellent question.”

With his elbows resting on the table, he folds his hands.

“Right now, Mendev is a torn country after the dreads and privations of the Crusades. What it needs most, is a compassionate but strong and determined leader to unite it with a clear course and goal.

Queen Galfrey’s reign, may she rest in peace, never seemed to reach as far as it should have. The nation is divided in its cities’ separate interests and their Commanders take liberties and only focus on improvements and threats right in front of their own door. – An understandable approach, given the fact that the efforts of the former Royal Council seemed to end at the borders of Nerosyan as well, but an approach I will exchange for a system of collaboration and and collective strength. The Commanders of Mendev’s settlements will find themselves confronted with a stricter set of laws and regulations, but can also expect benefits and support in matters of security, reconstruction and logistics.

The attacks of the demon hordes, regional disagreements and internal battles for power left the state fragile. I will use all available resources to stabilize the situation and aid the people who lost and suffered the most, but simultaneously I will implement harsh punishments for scavenging, corruption, and other forms of criminality.

I expect the transition to a civilian government to go smoothly after this long and exhausting war and the biggest change will be the establishment of a parliamentary body representing the interests of the people. It will offer them a chance to participate in political decisions with direct influence on their lives.

We need to redistribute Mendev’s wealth, improve infrastructure and to revise our tax system to stand true to our plans. The Lord Regent already has some bold but nonetheless auspicious ideas to raise the national budget and to restructure the management of public affairs.

Furthermore, I plan to implement a far-reaching supply system, meant for farmers, merchants, and craftsmen, to revitalize the economy, until they recovered from the crises.

I won’t attempt to disguise that we have a hard and rough way in front of us. But confidence and willpower among our people increased with the threat of the worldwound gone. And I will lead them into an era of reconstruction and creation, of progress, and most importantly: peace and stability. The future we will shape is worth fighting for.”