Miscellany 2
Gaza
There are several unexplored potential complications in the current situation in Israel. Foremost among these is Pakistan, which has had nuclear weapons for decades. The Pakistani warhead has a yield of about 40 Kilotons of TNT equivalent and sits upon a Shaheen-III missile with an estimated range of 2,750 km. Pakistan is believed to keep its 165 rockets and 165 warheads in the Balochistan region of the country. The distance from Balochistan to Tel Aviv is about 2,790 kilometers. Maximum distance for a missile is typically calculated conservatively.
Biden continues to deny that there is any direct evidence of Iran’s involvement in the Hamas attack or in the Hezbollah attack that has started up as soon as Hamas was notified that it would be destroyed. Nobody needs direct evidence; after all, Cui bono? People criticize Biden for unfreezing the $6B in assets that are sitting in Qatar, and the administration correctly points out that none of that has been touched by Iran. Unfortunately, since he became President, Biden has stopped enforcing the Trump-imposed sanctions on oil sales by Iran. Those have resulted in $70-80 billion in foreign currency for Iran. Biden also resumed welfare contributions for humanitarian aid to both Hamas and Hezbollah. Given that we’re contributing hundreds of millions to both Israel and Egypt in terms of military assistance, it appears that we’re funding both sides of the war.
We are about to be most embarrassed. Even Paraguay and Peru have announced they are arranging transportation home for hostages; we’ve announced that if we were able to send chartered aircraft, Americans would need to agree to reimburse the government for their transport. Our President, in the face of as many as 250 citizens missing or kidnapped, announced that US citizens could arrange their own commercial transportation home. No mention was made of “We’re coming to get you” nor any declaration that were one hostage harmed, Iran would answer for it. Instead, we put a lid on the day’s appointment calendar and sleepy Joe went down for a nap.
US Financial Matters
Over the last few months, US’s Debt Rating was quietly downgraded – again. The first time it was downgraded Barrack Obama was President, and it was for profligate spending and weak controls. You’ll never guess what the reasons were this time. Or maybe you’re suspecting profligate spending and weak controls. If you are suspecting that, you’re right. Give yourself a pat on the back
Congress
Republicans are proving themselves unfit to govern. We’ve gone fourteen days without a Speaker of the House. Every time a new name is put forward somebody has a personal or ideological objection. For now, go outside the House and offer the job to Harold Ford, Jr. I mean, why not? Or, maybe RFK, Jr.
Personal Update
I missed Sarurday. As in I woke up at about three pm ensconced in my recliner and had no idea what had happened that day. My wife told me I got up at either five a.m. or eight a.m. (it’s kind of fuzzy) and come out to the den/informal dining room/my cave. I ate a banana. I have no memory of any of that. Which is complicated by my having fallen each of the prior two nights and my wife needed to call the fire squad to get me off the floor. No injuries, no blood, the only thing that was injured was my dignity. My wife has bought two large-frame lighted dementia clocks for the house. Now, whether in bed or my recliner, I can see large, lighted digital clocks that read Monday Afternoon, 1:27 pm, October 18, 2023. That’s actually helpful since I can never recall day or the week so that I know which compartment to empty into my medicine cup.
"Our President, in the face of as many as 250 citizens missing or kidnapped, announced that US citizens could arrange their own commercial transportation home."
This is crazy. Especially since Gov Ron DeSantis did this.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/desantis-greets-nearly-300-americans-evacuated-israel-tampa-florida-airport/
Your brutal honesty makes me feel like a wuss.