SNAPSHOT

Yesterday, I put together a podcast, something I'm still really new at, based on a process I've been doing here on my blog for several years. For those of you who have followed me, you know from time to time, I've put together a process I call, "SNAPSHOT". It's my way of taking a quick, strategic look at global issues and providing a down and dirty opinion of why they are important and what to look for. I will be the first to tell you, the podcast route is.......well....it's just easier. Never fear, I will replicate to the best of my ability.

IRAN:

   Where are we on Iran? Enrichment? Is that the issue at the moment?  Is the five percent issue truly noteworthy? Well, that depends on who you are asking. In Israel, the answer is a resounding yes. In Europe and in Moscow, the answer would be no. In the US? Honestly, I really don't know. Yes, we have heard the words, "That would be a big mistake", but what does that mean? what does it mean in Moscow? What does it mean in Isreal? Who cares what it means in the EU. China? we will get to that but on a different topic. 

   One comment I made on my podcast is a statement I've been making on my blog site for the past several years. The Iranian and North Korea weapon's programs are joined at the hip. What does that mean? Short answer, the Mullahs already have a nuclear weapon system. The problem is, it resides in North Korea. Yes, the program was and is a joint venture and those who don't want to admit it still now the truth. What's missing? the fuel, that's what's missing. Now, go back to the enrichment issue. How important is that topic? But wait. there is a huge blocking force to this threat. The functional weapons may be in North Korea but does anyone believe that nonfueled weapon could make it from North Korea to Iran? " Just fuel it there and don't worry about it". If that is what you were thinking, then here is another bit of reality. Nuclear fuel has a fingerprint. If a "joint" bomb is ever going to be used, North Korea would have to be sure the fingerprint of the bomb, the fuel, is not traced to North Korea. That fuel will have to come from Iran. So, again, how important is the enrichment issue? I think we have our answer. 

   Last but you can rest assured not least, does it matter what the EU or Moscow thinks about the enrichment issue? Not to Israel. The Mullahs are desperate and growing more so day by day thanks to the crippling sanctions from the US. Will they push the 2015 violations to the point that Israel will respond? At the rate it's going, do the Mullahs have any offramp anywhere in sight? No. Do the people of Iran? Let's pray they do. In the end, Israel will do what it needs to do to survive the Iranian threat. For the Mullahs, conflict may be the only choice. This topic was first on my list for a reason. 

THE RUSSIAN SUB:

   This story is not only mysterious to me, but it's also somewhat frightening. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure why I placed the Iranian issue above this topic. A Russian "Special Operations" sub said to be on a mapping mission in Russian waters has a fire. Unusual? Not for Russian subs. Unusual as to the makeup of the crew and the quick disclaimer about the location and purpose of the mission? Yes. Unusual the White House had an emergency meeting at nearly the same time as the fire? Only if the US needed to have its story straight. Was the US in the "area"? Seems like it. why else would such a quick meeting be called, if......if....that is the reason the meeting was held. Did something take place that had the potential to create a crisis between the two nations? It's interesting and perhaps even a clue that a Russian military Commander made mention of how the brave actions of those who died saved the world from a global event? Not the exact wording here, but the point is made. a point that was quickly denied by other senior Russian military members. Folks. Something took place here and it was not just a simple fire onboard a Russian Sec Ops sub in Russian waters. Here the last thing we do know. The issue has "officially" gone away. I want to stress the word, "officially".

HONG KONG:

   Weeks of protest, protest like we have not witnessed in Hong Kong for years. Protest Beijing places the blame squarely on the US and most likely the UK.  Are they correct in their assumption? maybe, but the idea of DC being that proactive at a time when the US political leadership is a ship lost at sea, I wouldn't put too much stock in Beijing's theory. Could NGOs, ones that have ties to both governments, be stoking the flames of discontent in Hong Kong's youth? Perhaps. But, ask yourself this question. What's in it for them? What's in it for the nations that may support the NGO activities? Here is an even better question. Are you convinced it would be the US or the UK behind such an event? Are there "others" who might wish to see pressure applied to China?  Yes, yes there is and some even call them, "Allie". The Bear still secretly fears the Dragon. Here is the problem. Beijing is most likely stuck on the US / UK scenario. China knows it can no longer have Tiananmen Square events. The days of running people over with tanks are over, at least we think they so.

   Here is my bet. Beijing believes the events in Hong Kong are related to the US's pressure on two fronts. 1. The trade talks. " Work with us or watch what type of unconventional problems we can create for you". 2. The US strategic plan for limiting China's growing influence in the world. Does the US see China as a player in the events in Venezuela? yes. Does the US see China working to disrupt the US's relationships with the rest of the Americas? yes. Does Beijing see what is taking place in Hong Kong as retaliation for such events? It's very possible. Is China frustrated with this issue? You bet they are. Will it lead to them turning up the heat somewhere else? I think you can always bank on the deep thinking Chinese to find alternative reactions. 

MEXICO:

   This one is the most simple one on the list if for any other reason than the fact I have spoken to the issue of Mexico's status multiple times in the past few weeks. Having said that, here is the twist I need to add. On my podcast, I touched on the issue of the Mexican Federal Police protesting against the government of AMLO. It seems the transformation process for the federal police into the new National Gaurd is not well accepted. As if this was not bad enough for the progressive, pacifist revolutionary AMLO, his comment about disbanding the Mexican military is very likely having impacts we are not even witnessing...............yet! AMLO is driving Mexico into uncharted waters, waters they have not witnessed since the last revolution. How does this impact the growing crisis in the US, illegal migration? Let me restate what I have said over an over again. If the US thinks it has a migration crisis now, just wait until Mexico falls into the same pit as Venezuela? Can that happen? Can Mexico turn into another Venezuela or Albania? Those that say it can't are the same ones who try to explain what changed before they were given the opportunity to not sound so stupid.  AMLO is a chapter in Mexican history that is being written with each passing day. Where that history takes that fragile nation is anyone's guess.

ANTIFA:

   I will end with this topic and I have two concerns. 1. The movement is a dangerous indication of political correctness gone insane in the US. 2. The enemies of the US have to look at this movement as a potential weapon with the endstate of further, and I stress, further destabilizing the nation. When basement dwellers dress up as some version of a Ninja geek and open assault people on the streets of the US,  all the while as law enforcement looks on, then we can only assume the US society is heading into turbulent waters.

   Look. The world has seen another group just like this. They were called, " Sturmabteilungs". Brown Shirts. They roamed the streets of Germany in the 20s and 30s and terrorized anyone who didn't go along with their way of thinking and they did so all in the name of "justice". They had the backing of one political party, even when that party pretended they didn't support their more egregious actions. Sound familiar and please don't answer with, "well, the same can be said of the KKK". I don't respond to childish comments.

   It is time. It is time for the US Department of Justice and the White House to call these thugs what they are, Domestic Terrorist. Don't just call them that. Officially identify them as such and bring the full force of the legal system down on them. I will end with a reminder of my first concern. The enemies of the US are always looking for cracks in the armor. follow the money. look who is funding these groups, Geroge Soros and others and hit them where it hurts. Make bank accounts disappear with the use of a keyboard and then sit back and simply say, " I wonder how that happened"? This is a dangerous movement in the US and it's one the US's enemies will not overlook.


There you have it. My most recent version of my " Snapshot" concept. A little different than the version on my podcast, but given my blog site has a much larger, international audience, I attempted to look at issues that impact us on a global scale. are there others? yes. Are there some that are more important? That's a matter of perception. Will I address some of those others issues not covered here today? You bet I will. If you are not in the US, please take the time to listen to my podcast. I would love to have your feedback on how I attempt to keep things really....... really simple. If you are in the US, listen as well. I don't mean to exclude you, but I am trying to build my audience abroad.

www.messy.fm/podcast/c2a851a0-a12a-11e9-8c51-1b7a3eeb3f1f