Law, Power, and Justice

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  • Life and News notes 21 September 2026

    Monday 21 September 2026

    NEWS SHORTS

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

    · On the last day of parliamentary elections in Russia, Ukraine pulled off a major drone attack including on Moscow (MSNow). Drones hit one of the country’s largest oil refineries (Daily Beast).

    · ICE officer shoots another man in Austin (The Texas Tribune). The man was making a DoorDash delivery (Austin American-Statesman).

    · CNN, MSNOW and Politico are suing White House over blocked access (Axois).

    · World leaders meet at UN this week (Reuters).

    · Russia is hiring Ukrainian children to carry out attacks (Washington Post).

    · Trump administration determined to dismantle International Criminal Court (Wall Street Journal). (Note: Just what we need).

    · Violent West Bank settlers are threatening Israel’s alliance with America. Once relatively uncommon, settler terrorism, has “exploded in severity in recent years – with a wink-nudge support from…Netanyahu” “Democrats…have come together to support legislation that would impose sanctions on Israeli politicians and corporations implicated in the violence. The Trump administration, the most pro-settlement White House in American history, has very conspicuously stood aside as Canada and European nation implemented sanctions of their own….the political movement oversall exists to seize land from Palestinians and slam the door on the possibility of a two-state solution…” (Vox). Beauchamp, Zack (9/21/26) “How violent West Bank settlers are threatening Israel’s alliance with America.” Vox.

    · Book: Akbar Shahid Ahmed, “Crossing the Red Line,” Biden policy on Gaza.

    BOOKS: Unger, Craig (2024) Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House. Boston and New York: Mariner Books.

    Less than two weeks after the Shah arrived in the United States to receive cancer treatment Jimmy Carter was told he couldn’t get anywhere else in the world, on November 4, 1979, hundreds of Iranians stormed the American embassy and took seventy hostages as they demanded the extradition of the Shah. (14

    The media was covering the situation minute by minute. Carter’s poll numbers plummeted and he appeared weak and helpless. Carter was crippoled by “the absence of good intelligence by the CIA on what was happening interenally with Iran,” according to Stuart Eizenstat, the White House domestic affairs adviser.

    Carter had almost no alternatives. Military intervention risked the lives of the hostages. Diplomacy was going nowhere. And, the Strait of Hormuz hung in the balance. Iran needed arms. All theirs were out of date American arms, but the trade of arms for hostages struck Carter, one of the few moral men left in American politics, as paying a bribe to terrorists (17).

    ART:

    ART BOOKS

    GAUGUIN

    Hanson, Lawrence and Elizabeth (1954) “Noble Savage: The Life of Paul Gauguin.”

    In 1855, when Gauguin’s paternal grandfather died Paul and his mother relocated to France. Suddenly, the benefits of being a member of a wealthy elite family vanished and Paul was just another fairly poor student who could hardly speak French. At 17 he decided he wanted to go to sea. His mother objected but there was little you could do with Paul.

    When Paul first told Mette, she recognized the rolling gate that characterized him and not his business colleagues. Six years at sea has “…turned him from a weedy boy into a powerful man and confirmed his sense of superiority.” When he returned in 1871 his mother was dead and everything she owned destroyed by the Prussians. But her last thought was of him and arranging a man to take care of him when he returned.

    https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-global-life-of-paul-gauguin/7wVBgBK4f2CjGg?hl=en

  • Sunday 20 September 2026

    LIFE NOTES

    RUSSIA

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

    · Putin has declared that war veterans should form the “leadership cadre” of the Russian future. He has created a program to fast track them into senior political and corporate positions. Polling indicates support for the war against Ukraine, but polling is notoriously inaccurate in Russia, and supporting the war is not supporting the effects of the war on daily life. The point of all this is to “build a political class capable of sustaining endless war, no matter the cost” (Newsweek).

    ISRAEL

    · Last week Israel’s most influential and respected newspaper reported that Netanyahu was not only funneling billions to Hamas, but was warned in advance of Oct. 7. The rationale goes that the massacre provided a justification for dragging the U.S. into an all-out war with Iran, and thus reclaim Gaza (Pennlive). A colleague of mine theorizes that Netanyahu knew in advance, he just didn’t know how extensive and devastating the attack would be. It would make sense to replace Netanyahu, but the potential successors “may be further to the right than he is” (Pennlive)

    · The Jerusalem Post, however, published an opinion piece (Greer Fay Cashman) that evidently sums up the feelings of a lot of Israelis. Netanyahu was elected, and if you believe in democracy you must support the government. “Internal squabbles” make Israel look weak. “An attack on the leaders contributes to paving the path to anarchy.” Ehud Barak, whose voice is frequently heard in the anti-Bibi circles is attackin Bibi’s character, in interviews with foreign media. “

    · “To do so. Encourages further character assassination, such as that displayed in the AI Generated Judicial Reform Campaign video released by Benazir Smoltrich, in which he showed Chief Justice Isaac Emmett and Attorney General Gali Baharov. Sarah being arrested by police and dragged through the streets. This was so outrageously below the belt that even people on the right who supported judicial reform were outraged.”

    · “While I understand what it means to bereaved families, have BB either admit to being accountable or having COM a Commission of inquiry, decide that he’s accountable, it doesn’t really serve any purpose. It doesn’t bring back the dead, it doesn’t heal the wounded, it doesn’t stop the grief in the morning” (The Jerusalem Post 9/19/26).

    LIFE NOTES

    Beautiful Fall Leaves

  • Trump and the press

    Saturday 19 September 2026

    News Note Shorts

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

    · Demonstration at the Kennedy Centre over concern that Trump is determined to tear it down.

    · CNN AND MS NOW denied access to White House. There is precedent that the president cannot deny access to the White House based on perspective, but he can deny press conferences completely. But, Donald Trump would die in a day if he were denied access to the press. He lives and breathes off the press.

    · Fuel depot ablaze at airport in Saudi capital.

    · Elections in Russia. United Russia is the governing party. Other parties have been removed from the ballot. The lower house of parliament is the Duma. Yabloko, the only anti-war party was banned. There have been no debates taken part in by United Russia. The election is purposefully boring to discourage people who disagree with Putin and United Russia from going to the polls. There is a fear that there will be a general mobilization after the elections (Washington Post).

    · Israel: Sara Netanyahu insinuated in an interview that there was advanced knowledge of the October 7 attack among the defense establishment. “…the Government has thwarted the establishment of a state Commission of inquiry and is preventing an investigation into the circumstances that enabled the attack (Haaretz)

    · Ukraine takes advantage of withholding information on advances and relying on the face that “… Russian forces have a deeply rooted culture of misinforming, misleading and lying to superiors in the chain of command to secure favorable treatment from higher ups and to avoid repercussions when the situation deteriorates in their sector…” (Newsweek).

    · According to the anti-war project Ark, Russians are leaving the country in fear of mobilization. People have begun opening foreign bank accounts and moving assets abroad.

    · (EuroNews).

  • Thursday 17 September 2026

    I don’t know where September went. It’s half over. I can hear the train whistle in the background, about a mile away. About the same distance it was from our house when I was growing up. It’s the same old train whistle too, just the same, familiar noise.

    My daddy used to complain that the train whistle kept him up all night. I don’t know how many times it went through town in a day or a night, but it seemed like a lot. I can’t count the times I sat in a car with my mother waiting for the train to go through, or back up, or pull forward. It went right through the center of the town, such as it was – one main street and several side streets. And people put their cars in park and got out and visited between cars for the half an hour or forth-five minutes it took to get the train ready to leave again. Miss Rochelle was the worst. she would get out of the car and we would have to wait and wait after the train moved, and sometimes even blow the horn to get her to stop talking and get back into her own car. She never resented it. She would laugh, as if she thought her own behavior was so very funny. It was infectious. Most people couldn’t help laughing along with her, even if they were in a hurry to go somewhere. That was just Miss Rochelle.

    I know I bought apple juice for something and in my mind thre is a photograph of rosemary in it. So…..Apple Rosemary cocktail recipe – ¼ c. water, ¼ c. honey, 3 sprigs rosemary, ½ c gin, ¼ c. lemon juice, ¼ c. apple juice. Boil water, honey and rosemary, turn off heat steep 10 min, cool to room temp. combine gin, lemon, apple and syrup mixture in small pitcher, strain into glasses and serve over ice. Refrigerate leftovers.

    News Notes

    ISRAEL

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

    · Book: “Hashem Ori” written by the father of a hostage killed in Gaza.

    · The former Attorney General who gave permission to indict Netanyahu will most likely take the stand in Netanyahu’s trial in the coming weeks. He will most probably do so only weeks before the election. (Jerusalem Post, 9/17/26)

    · The Israeli army has terminated the service of the Gaza Division intelligence officer during the Octoer 7, 2023 attack. Professional errors, failures and command responsibility were cited.

    · Sardines are good for you. That’s good news because we are traveling to Spain.

    · A judge in Minnesota appointed by George W. Bush with 20 years of experience on the bench wrote in a January order: “ICE is not a law unto itself.” Judge Schiltz clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia in the 1980s and has had close ties with the conservative legal establishment for decades. Events in Minnesota’s federal court “created a grave threat to the rule of law,” he said (NYT, 9/17/26).

    · Under Pete Hegseth there have been 1) purges of senior military officers on an unprecedented scale; 2) new restrictions on where officers can study and what thoughts they can express in academic papers, 3) polygraphs aimed at ferreting out leakers or intimidating those tempted to share sensitive information, 4) long deployments, 5) shortfalls of critical middile interceptors, 6) climates of mistrust in the top ranks. Hegseth was determined to raise standards and liberate the military from “left-wing agenda.” His aim has been to restore a “warrior ethos” (that includes testing testosterone.). He has fired or blocked the promotions of as many as 80 generals and admirals. Key leadership positions hae gone unfilled for months. Hegseth views education as a “conduit for corrupting, liberal ideas” (NYT wording).

  • NETANYAHU KNEW

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES FROM AN OVEREDUCATED, CHILDLESS OLD CAT LADY, BEAVERING AWAY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK

    Tuesday 8 September 2026

    The most important new story of the day, according to my opinion, is that Benjamin Netanyahu was given explicit advanced warning of an attack on October 7. Not only did he refrain from doing anything about it, he failed to notify his military and others high up in his cabinet that an attack was coming (Eldar, 9/8/26).

    The Middle East is not usually my locus of interest when it comes to international affairs. Having traveled extensively in Latin America, done a doctoral thesis on law in ancient Mexico, and written books about law and Mexico and Panama, Israel was not one of my areas of real interest.

    But, near the end of the summer of 2023, it was hard to avoid interest when hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets against their own government regarding a change in the laws regarding the justice system. This was especially the case when it came out that men and women had said that they would refuse to comply with military deployment if the government went ahead with the determination to denature the Israeli Supreme Court.

    So, I was already paying attention to events in Israel. “Terrorists attacks inflamed the West Bank, masses of Gazans regularly protested at the border fence, and the country was reeling from internal conflict over the judicial coup laws.”

    That I knew. What I didn’t know was that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed – known as MBZ – was also paying attention. And he was talking with Israeli President Isaac Herzog with whom he maintained friendly relations. The situation in Israel needed to be defused MBZ repeatedly conveyed to Herzog. According to reporting in Haaretz, MBZ “even sent a special enjoy to Israel who met with the prime minister. The emir seemed to sense that the area was on the verge of explosion.”

    MBZ also spoke directly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. MBz’s communication with Netanyahu usually followed a standard procedure, but this time, MBZ initiated the call himself a week and a half before October 7. He warned Netanyahu that Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was “planning a major operation against Israel.” MBZ was concerned that the action would not only lead to bloodshed but would destabilize the entire region.

    Haaretz, citing three foreign senior sources which were familiar with the content of the conversation, revealed its existence for the first time.

    “It’s disclosure is the result of extensive research based on dozens of sources in Israel and worldwide, including very senior officials, as well as records, internal documents and correspondence. [1]

    One of the key figures in this discussion was a close adviser to bin Zayed, a Palestinian wo had emigrated years ago from Gaza to Abu Dhabi and maintained “strong ties in the Strip.” He stressed that the Emirati ruler impressed on Netanyahu that there needed to be a strong preparation for the threat.

    According to the article, the emir stressed to Netanyahu that Sinwar was preparing a major event. “concurrently,, he recommended trying to find an economic solution for the Strip and calming the West Bank to prevent escalation.”

    While Bin Zayed urged Natanuahy to take the situation seriously, to his surprise, Netanuahy reacted with relative calm. Netanyahu told Bin Zayed that Hamas intended to operate in the West Bank area and that Israel was prepared for any scenario.

    MBZ would later recount the conversation and the warnings he relayed to Netanyahu to CIA Director William J. Burns. MBZ shared with Burns his sense that as he tried to convey to Netanyahu that something was about to explode in Gaza, Netanyahu believed the volatile area was in the West Bank.

    The emir hoped that nevertheless, Netanyahu would take action. But, according to Haaretz, “none of them imagined that the prime minister would hear the message but wouldn’t brief the heads of the defense establishment. The head of the Shin Bet, the head of the Mossad, the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff – none of them knew about bin Zayed’s warning (Eldar, 9/8/26).

    For months before Netanyahu had been conducting talks with Hamas about a temporary truce aimed at a long-term arrangement for Gaza. Negotiations were being conducted about lifting of the blockade on Gaza, increasing shipments of food and raw materials, establishing a trade zone along the Strip’s border which would provide thousands of jobs. The Egyptians were willing to allow Palestinians to have safe passage to the airport in Sharm el-Sheikh, and there was a proposal to supply them natural gas.

    By the summer of 2023 it seemed the economic matters had been solved and negotiations over prisoners were going well. The participants were optimistic. Then, things slowed down. There was speculation that Netanyahu was afraid of reaching an agreement with Hamas, or that he feared his extremist partners in his new government, or he feared that the agreement would leak to the media. Whatever, negotiations stalled for weeks and weeks.

    Hamas head Sinwar was displeased. Those involved in the talks tried to reassure him that Netanyahu was distracted by the protests over the judicial overhaul. Amid this turmoil, the perception grew among Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah that Israel was weakened and that the three together could defeat it. Senior Hamas officials tried to convince Iran to finance the attack.

    Then, in early September 2023, Sinwar vanished from the negotiations. Thus the channel of contact between Shin Bet and Hamas, managed under Netanyahu’s approval, was cut off.

    Then, Sinwar met with one of the participants referred to as “Coal Eyes.” “Tell the Israelis,” Sinwar said “that if they don’t make progress, I’m preparing a huge surprise for them.” Sinwar was using language that implied war. Coal Eyes was afraid to tell Shin Bet, but also afraid not to tell them for fear they would think he was part of the Hamas effort. In yet another meeting between Sinwar and Coal Eyes, Sinwar made it plain that he wanted the Israelis informed of his threat word for word. Still, nothing happened.

    Meanwhile, the Emirati ruler decided to hold a conversation with Netanyahu himself. In a 45-minute conversation he conveyed an explicit warning about Sinwar’s intentions. A similar call came from the Egyptians about “a terrifying operation.” But Netanyahu told the Egyptians that Israel was in control in Gaza. It was the West Bank that was the problem and it was the West Bank where they were diverting forces.”

    Neither call was passed along to a coordinating meeting about the situation.

    After direct warnings from Sinwar about an attack on Israel, and no response from Israel, the Emirati decided to hold a 45-minute conversation with the Prime Minister himself. A similar call was made by the Egyptian intelligence chief, Gen. Abbas Kamel, who warned Netanyahu of “something unusual, a terrifying operation” about to be launched by Hamas. Netanuahy, reportedly told Kamen that Israel was “in the picture” in Gaza, that the problem was the West Bank where they (the Israelis) were diverting forces.

    On October 1 the head of the Shin Bet recommended targeting senior Hamas officials, including Sinwar. Netanyahu replied using a standard refrain that bought him time: “Prepare plans for me and I will consider them.” Throughout the meeting the Prime Minister did not mention the calls he had received.

    One senior Shin Bet official was quoted as regretting not knowing about the calls. “Perhaps it could also have clarified what was behind his sudden withdrawal from the talks in early September.” It could “have changed out entire assessment picture.”

    CHAPTER: ISRAEL

    BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Eldar, Shlomi (9/8/26) “Revealed: Netanyahu received an explicit warning days before October 7. He didn’t brief Israel’s security chiefs.” Haaretz.

    [1] The research was conducted for the new book “Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment, Kinneret Zmora publishing, In Hebrew by the authors of this article).

  • NEWS SHORTS, ISRAEL

    Sunday 13 September 2026

    NEWS SHORTS

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

    · Federal Court rules there is no constitutional right to safe drinking water (Capital B, 9/13/26).

    · Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claim new attacks on Saudi Arabia (AP, 9/13/26).

    · Yemen hits back against Houthis as Saudi shutdown limits oil flow (NBC, 9/13/26).

    · Saudi Arabia has few options as it faces mounting threats from Iran and its allies (AP, 9/12/26).

    · Saudi’s shut down oil pipeline (9/12/26, Reuters).

    · U.S. doctor treats Ebola’s youngest victims (NPR, 9/10/26). In the Democatic Republic of the Congo there are at least 6,800 confirmed cases and more than 3,300 deaths since May. For this particular strain there is no approved antiviral medication or vaccine.

    · Vance is pitching himself as Trump’s political heir at Republican midterm fund raiser (The Guardian, 9/12/26).

    ISRAEL

    There is outrage about the Haaretz reporting that Netanyahu was warned about the October7attacks (The Observer, 9/13/26).

    · Families of former hostages are outraged about the information that Netanyahu was warned ten days before massacre. One family member affected compared it to an earthquake.

    · While some think this could defeat Netanyahu at the polls next month, there is no hope that his opponents will end occupation in the West Bank (the UK announced sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank where attacks are becoming more frequent).

    · However, after the Haaretz story broke, the opposition announced that the first thing it would do is establish an independent commission of inquiry into security failures. Netanyahu has resisted public demands for an inquiry.

    · Netanyahu has threatened to sue Haaretz and calls the story a “wicked fabrication.”

    · This month marks Netanyahu’s 19th year in office. He is Israeli’s longest-serving prime minister.

    · Netanyahu views himself as fighting the security services, which he sees as trying to bring him down.

  • Saturday 12 September 2026

    CLINTON

    Good for Hillary Clinton, talking about the government lying about the air quality after 9/11. She’s on Morning Joe. Who was responsible for that? Giuliani? Good grief, what a pleasure it is to hear somebody talk who sounds like they know what they are talking about. She could have been president.

    CUBA

    The Washington Examiner (9/8/26) is advocating the “extraction method” (what the U.S. did to Maduro) for Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega. The reporter makes an absurd case to support the legality of a blatantly illegal and unconstitutional act. But, these people live in another world.

    The U.S. has announced a new round of sanctions scheduled to take effect against Cuba, already suffering from a devastated economy due to U. S. action (Al Jazeera Staff, 9/4/26). Sec. of State Marco Rubio (read future Cubana Viceroy) criticizes Cuba’s “failed state” where “ordinary Cubans go hungry” after months of prior sanctions. He also accuses Cuba of seeking to “export subversive Marxist ideology” to the United States. There are probably not 100 people in the entire of the United States who could accurately tell you what Marxism is. This is after Cuba, in an attempt to blunt the effects of the sanctions passed the biggest free-market reforms in decades and also conducting prisoner releases as a “humanitarian and sovereign gesture.” The High Commissioner for human rights at the UN has called for the end of the U.S. sanctions. “This is unacceptable.” He said. “Children are dying because docto5s lack access to essential medical supplies and medicines.”

    The Cuban government reports that the US. Embargo has cost the economy $8 billion between March 2025 and February 2026, “the highest figure yet recorded and seven percent more than in the previous reporting period” (Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters, 9/7/26). Foreign Minister Bruno Rodrigez described the embargo as “genocidal.” He discussed the hardships of citizens who had only a few hours of electricity a day. Rodriguez called the situation “collective punishment.”

    SPAIN

    After several years of going nowhere, we have booked a cruise along the coast of Spain and Portugal. Needless to say, we are excited. I have just finished Cambridge University Press’ “A Concise History of Spain,” which I must confess was a hard read. And, now, I have the Cambridge version of “A Concise History of Portugal” to go. I hope it is easier to get down.

    Away from history and into current events, I just found a podcast called “Spain Today News 10” which was filled with interesting information about Spain’s criminal justice system (remember I’m a criminologist) and what seems to be a lot of high level corruption.

    For an utterly delicious video about a road trip through Andalusia and southern Spain, try UTube’s “The Best of Andalusia: Epic 2 Week RoadTrip” by Eat See TV (9/10/26) Really, this video made my mouth water and made me want to simply eat my way through Spain.

    Since our trip is planned, I’m going to add Spain and Portugal to my life of topics. I hope it is enjoyed.

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

  • NETANYAHU KNEW

    Friday 11 September 2026

    Continuation of:

    Eldar, Shlomi (9/8/26) “Revealed: Netanyahu received an explicit warning days before October 7. He didn’t brief Israel’s security chiefs.” Haaretz.

    After direct warnings from Sinwar about an attack on Israel, and no response from Israel, the Emirati decided to hold a 45-minute conversation with the Prime Minister himself. A similar call was made by the Egyptian intelligence chief, Gen. Abbas Kamel, who warned Netanyahu of “something unusual, a terrifying operation” about to be launched by Hamas. Netanuahy, reportedly told Kamen that Israel was “in the picture” in Gaza, that the problem was the West Bank where they (the Israelis) were diverting forces.

    On October 1 the head of the Shin Bet recommended targeting senior Hamas officials, including Sinwar. Netanyahu replied using a standard refrain that bought him time: “Prepare plans for me and I will consider them.” Throughout the meeting the Prime Minister did not mention the calls he had received.

    One senior Shin Bet official was quoted as regretting not knowing about the calls. “Perhaps it could also have clarified what was behind his sudden withdrawal from the talks in early September.” It could “have changed out entire assessment picture.”

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES WRITTEN BY AN OVER-EDUCATED, CAT LADY (ACCORDING TO J. D. F…ING VANCE) BEAVERING AWAY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK

  • NETANYAHU KNEW

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES FROM AN OVEREDUCATED, CHILDLESS OLD CAT LADY, BEAVERING AWAY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK

    Tuesday 8 September 2026

    The most important new story of the day, according to my opinion, is that Benjamin Netanyahu was given explicit advanced warning of an attack on October 7. Not only did he refrain from doing anything about it. He failed to notify his military and others high up in his cabinet that an attack was coming (Eldar, 9/8/26).

    The Middle East is not usually my locus of interest when it comes to international affairs. Having traveled extensively in Latin America, done a doctoral thesis on law in ancient Mexico, and written books about law and Mexico and Panama, Israel was not one of my areas of real interest.

    But, near the end of the summer of 2023, it was hard to avoid interest when hundreds of thousands of Israelis had taken to the streets against their own government regarding a change in the laws regarding the justice system. This was especially the case when it came out that men and women had said that they would refuse to comply with military deployment if the government went ahead with the determination to denature the Israeli Supreme Court.

    So, I was paying attention to events in Israel. “Terrorists attacks inflamed the West Bank, masses of Gazans regularly protested at the border fence, and the country was reeling from internal conflict over the judicial coup laws.”

    UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed – known as MBZ – was also paying attention. And he was talking with Israeli President Isaac Herzog with whom he maintained friendly relations. The situation needed to be defused MBZ repeatedly conveyed to Herzog. “He even sent a special enjoy to Israel who met with the prime minister. The emir seemed to sense that the area was on the verge of explosion.”

    MBZ also spoke directly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. MBz’s calls usually followed a standard procedure, but this time, MBZ initiated the call himself a week and a half before October 7. He warned Netanyahu that Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was “planning a major operation against Israel.” He was concerned that the action would not only lead to bloodshed but would destabilize the entire region.

    Haaretz, citing three foreign senior sources which are familiar with the content of the conversation, reveal its existence for the first time.

    “It’s disclosure is the result of extensive research based o dozens of sources in Israel and worldwide, including very senior officials, as well as records, internal documents and correspondence. [1]

    One of the key figures in this discussion was a close adviser to bin Zayed, a Palestinian wo had emigrated years ago from Gaza to Abu Dhabi and maintained “strong ties in the Strip.” He stressed that the Emirati ruler impressed on Netanyahu that there needed to be a strong preparation for the threat.

    According to the article, the emir stressed that Sinwar was preparing a major event. “cocurently,, he recommended trying to find an exonomic solution for the Strip and calming the West Bank to prevent escalation.”

    While Bin Zayed urged Natanuahy to take the situation seriously, to his surprise, Netanuahy reacted with relative calm. He told Bin Zayed that Hamas intended to operate in the West Bank area and that Israel was prepared for any scenario.

    MBZ would later recount the conversation and the warnings he relayed to Netanyahu to CIA Director William J. Burns. He (MBZ) shared with Burns his sense that as he tried to convey to Netanuahy that something was about to explode in Gaza, Netanyahu believed the volatile area was in the West Bank.

    The emir hoped that nevertheless, Netanyahu would take action. “none of them imagined that the prime minister would hear the message but wouldn’t brief the heads of the defense establishment. The head of the Shin Bet, the head of the Mossad, the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff – none of them knew about bin Zayed’s warning (Eldar, 9/8/26).

    For months Netanyahu had been conducting talks with Hamas about a temporary truce aimed at a long-term arrangement. Negotiations were being conducted over a lifting of the blockade on Gaza, increasing shipments of food and raw materials, establishing a trade zone along the Strip’s border which would provide thousands of jobs. The Egyptians were willing to allow Palestinians to have safe passage to the airport in Sharm el-Sheikh, and there was a proposal to supply them natural gas.

    In the summer of 2023 it seemed the economic matters had been solved and negotiations over prisoners were going well. The participants were optimistic. Then, things slowed down. There was speculation that Netanyahu was afraid of reaching an agreement with Hamas, or that he feared his extremist partners in his new government, or that the agreement would leak to the media. And, so negotiations stalled for weeks and weeks.

    Hamas head Sinwar was displeased. Those involved in the talks tried to reassure him that Netanyahu was distracted by the protests over the judicial overhaul. Amid this turmoil, the perception grew among Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah that Israel was weakened and that the three together could defeat it. Senior Hamas officials tried to convince Iran to finance the attack.

    Then, in early September 2023, Sinwar vanished from the negotiations. Thus the channel of contact between Shin Bet and Hamas, managed under Netanyahu’s approval, was cut off. Then, Sinwar met with one of the participants. “Tell the Israelis that if they don’t make progress, I’m preparing a huge surprise for them,” he told the man using language that implied war. The participant was afraid to tell Shin Bet, but also afraid not to tell them for fear they would think he was part of the Hamas effort. In yet another meeting with Sinwar, he made it plain that he wanted the Israelis informed of his threat word for word. Still, nothing happened.

    The Emirati ruler decided to hold a conversation with Netanyahu himself. In a 45-minute conversation he conveyed an explicit warning about Sinwar’s intentions. A similar call came from the Egyptians about “a terrifying operation.” But Netanyahu told the Egyptians that they were in control in Gaza. It was the West Bank that was the problem and where they were diverting forces.” Neither call was passed along to a coordinating meeting about the situation.

    BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Eldar, Shlomi (9/8/26) “Revealed: Netanyahu received an explicit warning days before October 7. He didn’t brief Israel’s security chiefs.” Haaretz.

    CHAPTER: ISRAEL

    [1] The research was conducted for the new book “Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment, Kinneret Zmora publishing, In Hebrew by the authors of this article).

  • NEWS NOTES WORTH READING

    MONDAY 7 SEPTEMER 2026

    UKRAINE

    “Nobody will win.” Zelensky adviser warns of mutual destruction if war with Russia continues. The Guardian.

    Ukraine war briefing: Zelensky links Russian strikes on Kyiv airports to US envoys’ visit. The Guardian.

    Ukrainian intel agencies in Kyiv firefight: What happened and why? Aljazeera

    How Ukraine created would-leading prostheses amid the chaos of war. New Scientist

    Ukraine war briefing: Zelensky calls air true as Kushner and Witkoff head for Kyiv via Moscow. The Guardian.

    How escalating attacks are upending daily life in Kyiv.

    Ukraine takes the war to Russia’s space programme in tactical shift. Aljazeera.

    TRUMP

    “Why Trump wants you to think all dissent is a ‘conspiracy.’ Mother Jones.

    Trump says will ask Europeans to repay US for aiding Ukraine. AFP.

    Trump again seeks to remove protections for wolves. AFP

    The Pa. measles fight has come into churches… The Washington Post.

    Pentagon polygraphs dozens of us military staff over media leaks. Aljazeera.

    Why is Donald Trump picking a fight with Canada? The New Yorker.

    The price America pays for Trump’s reliance on Kushner the closer. Newsweek

    ART

    “Matise’s ugliest painting. The New Yorker.

    “The art of getting lost in Minnie Evans.” The New Yorker.

    Rembrandt homecoming reopens 80-year-old art feud. The Sunday Times.

    In Pictures: The tender affection of Renoir’s romantic paintings. All about History.

    ISRAEL

    Netanyahu accused of slow response to 7 October attack. The New Arab.

    US rejects Israeli suggestions of removing Palestinians from Gaza. Aljazeera.

    Israel emptying West Bank refugee camps could be crime. AFP.

    Netanyahu partners renew calls for removal of Gazans as Israeli election nears. Reuters.

    As election focus shifts to October 7, Netanyahu pivots to conspiracy theories. Haaretz.

    The question Israelis refuse to ask: What has Netanyahu done to our conscience. Haaretz.

    Eight Arab, Muslim countries condemn Israeli ministers. Haaretz.

    The violent Israeli nomads who defy law and order in the name of God. Wall Street Journal.

    Amid merger talks, infighting threatens to unravel Israel’s anti-Netanyahu bloc. Haaretz.

    The Inside story of Israel’s War room after Oct. 7. Wall street Journal.

    Think Bibi is bad? Meet Sara Netanyahu. Haaretz.

    REPUBLICANS

    The GOP senate campaign gone disastrously wrong in Georgia. The Wall Street Journal.

    LAW

    Has the Supreme Court sandbagged democracy. The New Yorker.

    DEMOCRATS

    Destroying the American way of life: El Sayed. Fox News.

    The Democrats want Fetterman on a pike. The Wall Street Journal.

    DSA is using coffee with comrades and socialist softball. The Wall Street Journal.

    Bernie Sanders lets loose on the Democratic Party. Politico.

    Democratic contender Abudel El-Sayed hits back at J. D. Vance. The Guardian.

    RUSSIA

    In the POW camp filled with Africans duped into fighting for Putin. The Sunday Times.

    After CIA director visit to Moscow, Putin pushes harder for military win. The Washington Post.

    Putin’s strategic miscalculations. History of War.

    Russia’s Lavrov calls accusations of Mosco’s involvement in Leipzig drone incident start of read war, Tass reports. Reuters.

    The Island Paradise that is a secret hub for Russian sanctions evasion. The Wall street Jornal.

    Putin says Russia is winning on battlefield, will not negotiate with ‘terrorists.’ Reuters.

    Russia’s jet-powered drones are overwhelming Ukraine’s air defenses. The Washington Post.

    Europe calls out Russia’s hybrid war in public. But how can it make Putin pay? The Guardian.

    Russians skewer authorities for ordering citizens to register their chickens. Euronews.

    TECHNOLOGY

    Open AI wants to talk about the federalist papers. The Atlantic.

    Jaw-dropping scale of Putin’s humiliating crisis was revealed. Daily Beast.

    CUBA

    Cuban and Afghan immigrants deported from US under Trump arrive in Guyana. Aljazeera.

    Judge overturns Trump’s visa ban for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and many Caribbean nations. The News and Observer.

    Then and now: Photos show how Cuba went from a 1950s tourist destination to a country plagued by blackouts. Business Insider.

    ICE deports Kendall man feds say spent years spying on Cubans in Miami for Havana. Miami Herald.

    Cuba’s crisis was created by its own socialist politicians, not Trump’s blockade. New York Post.

    Cuba’s Raul Castro reappears in public, dispelling rumors about his health. Miami Herald.

    Deception and Bloody Marys: How a Cuban spy in Miami became devoted to anti-Castro militant.

    OTHER

    Trump and Rubio’s bold Venezuela oil pact could finally crush communism’s grip.

    Tuesday 8 September 2026

    RUSSIA

    Kremlin says it does not rule out restart of peace talks with Ukraine and US. Reuters.

    Putin embarrassed on battlefield as troops trapped. Daily Beast.

    Russia to strip contract soldiers o one off payment… Reuters.

    ISRAEL

    The settlement golem has turned on its creators. Haaretz.

    Palestine weekly: Israeli ministers push for depopulation of Gaza. Aljazeera.

    Ousting Netanyahu won’t fix the U.S. – Israel relationship. Haaretz.

    Can Gadi Eisenkot beat Benjamin Netanyahu? Sky News

    Netanyahu received an explicit warning days before Oct. 7. Haaretz

    Netanyahu orders dismantlement of West Bank settler outposts. Washington Examiner

    Eisenkot widens lead over Netanahu… Haaretz.

    MIDDLE EAST

    The domestic armed threat facing Iran. Aljazeera.

    How much is the Iran war costing americans. The New Yorker.

    Iran-backed Houthis attack Saudi…Reuters.

    UKRAINE

    Witkoff hails meaningful discussions… ABC News.

    Russia hits Kyiv after pause… Reuters.

    Russian strikes continue following visit…Fox News.

    Nobody will win. Zelensky adviser warns… The Guardian.

    The dead haunted me: How Kyiv helped a Russian soldier to defect. The Sunday Times.

    Ukraine war briefing. The Guardian

    THE RIGHT

    Trumpism’s shadow looms over German election… Los Angeles Times.

    Why one state election could rattle modern Germany. Christian Science Monitor.

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

  • Thursday

    Thursday 3 September 2026

    LIFE NOTES

    It is horribly muggy outside, muggy and hot. There’s a mist over the marsh but you can still see the travelers (that’s what I’ve taken to calling them) across the marsh, headlights passing by.

    Errol Flynn is hunkered down on top of the piano looking out over the back yard, the birds, the live oaks and the squirrels. Cool Mustard, our largest orangey, is hunkered down on the daybed with me in the library. That’s the morning array. Other cats are here and there, snoozing after breakfast, waiting for Mike to come downstairs so they can go outside for their morning walk.

    We don’t like to let them out before Mike comes downstair. That way, they don’t pace and pace and work themselves into a frenzy of anticipation. We hope that’s going to keep them from frothing at the mouth waiting to go outside when John is here keeping them while we go to Spain and Portugal.

    Besides, they don’t much like being outside when Mike’s not there. Sometimes, when he comes back inside for some coffee, they will follow him in and wait. They know they are safer when the big dog is outside watching over them.

    SHORT NEWS NOTES

    The dreadful Ken Paxton has been traveling with his girlfriend rather than campaigning in Texas, so the Republicans (some of them) have been essentially telling Trump that he broke this race (by refusing to back Coryn) and so now needs to use his massive war chest to fix it. It is doubtful, however, that Trump will do so. He hates to part with money, especially to benefit somebody else. He’s trying to get the Republicans to pay for it by charging them $25,000 a head to attend this ridiculous mid-term Republican convention which is essentially a little love-in for Trump.

    The B…..d Bassent is on television blaming the Ukrainians for high gas prices. This is likely the new strategy of the Trump administration to try to deflect the blame from themselves for this idiotic war against Iran.

    Hegseth is expanding deployment for servicemen which means that the war will be going on for a while longer, and they will need a way of explaining high gas prices. They have no morals or ethics and will lie in a second. As an example, Trump is claiming that the U.S. is “controlling” the Strait of Hormuz. There has evidently been discussion that Trump could declare “control,” and declare victory and end the war. This may give him some kind of short term gain, but little else.

    The guests on Morning Joe do their normal baffled discussion of why Trump is always backing Putin, such as blaming high gasoline prices on Ukraine. There is no mystery here. Trump is a Russian asset. He has been a Russian asset since the mid-eighties, it’s just that nobody wants to admit it. They somehow feel that it is better to allow Trump, Putin and Russia to destroy the U.S. than to admit that they were so incompetent that they allowed a Russian asset to become president.

    ICE has been operating in Connecticut, back to their old tricks, arresting parents waiting at school bus stops waiting for their children. And, Republicans use the fact that the DSA wants to defund ICE as some crazy plan.

    Gloria Steinham has died. I did not know this, but her first big article was an undercover piece where she pretended to be a Playboy Bunny. She wrote about the long hours and little pay, essentially how these women were being exploited to make money for Hugh Hefner. Barbara Walters wrote a feature on Playboy Bunnies at the same time. She presented the entire affair as charming and funny. Jesus.

    The White House is evidently already preparing for an onslaught of instigations should he Democrats take over the House and Senate. I am not at all sure that this will come about. I cannot see that the Democrats will be any different than they were when Obama was in office (moving forward) and when Biden was in office (not moving at all). The Democrats want to get back to “normal.” They do not want to impeach, investigate, charge. They are afraid, too afraid to uphold justice. This is why the DSA is being so successful.

    Books:

    Stealing Elections, American Style by David Walbert. Never has the federal government been so involved in controlling elections with measures such as gerrymandering, eliminating mail in voting, checking voters’ lists for non-citizens (or people whose names sound like they may not be citizens).

    What is Life Worth? By Kenneth Feinberg. The fund to compensate 9/11 victims.

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

  • Thursday 3 September 2026

    LIFE NOTES

    It is horribly muggy outside, muggy and hot. There’s a mist over the marsh but you can still see the travelers (that’s what I’ve taken to calling them) across the marsh, headlights passing by.

    Errol Flynn is hunkered down on top of the piano looking out over the back yard, the birds, the live oaks and the squirrels. Cool Mustard, our largest orangey, is hunkered down on the daybed with me in the library. That’s the morning array. Other cats are here and there, snoozing after breakfast, waiting for Mike to come downstairs so they can go outside for their morning walk.

    We don’t like to let them out before Mike comes downstair. That way, they don’t pace and pace and work themselves into a frenzy of anticipation. We hope that’s going to keep them from frothing at the mouth waiting to go outside when John is here keeping them while we go to Spain and Portugal.

    Besides, they don’t much like being outside when Mike’s not there. Sometimes, when he comes back inside for some coffee, they will follow him in and wait. They know they are safer when the big dog is outside watching over them.

    SHORT NEWS NOTES

    The dreadful Ken Paxton has been traveling with his girlfriend rather than campaigning in Texas, so the Republicans (some of them) have been essentially telling Trump that he broke this race (by refusing to back Coryn) and so now needs to use his massive war chest to fix it. It is doubtful, however, that Trump will do so. He hates to part with money, especially to benefit somebody else. He’s trying to get the Republicans to pay for it by charging them $25,000 a head to attend this ridiculous mid-term Republican convention which is essentially a little love-in for Trump.

    The B…..d Bassent is on television blaming the Ukrainians for high gas prices. This is likely the new strategy of the Trump administration to try to deflect the blame from themselves for this idiotic war against Iran.

    Hegseth is expanding deployment for servicemen which means that the war will be going on for a while longer, and they will need a way of explaining high gas prices. They have no morals or ethics and will lie in a second. As an example, Trump is claiming that the U.S. is “controlling” the Strait of Hormuz. There has evidently been discussion that Trump could declare “control,” and declare victory and end the war. This may give him some kind of short term gain, but little else.

    The guests on Morning Joe do their normal baffled discussion of why Trump is always backing Putin, such as blaming high gasoline prices on Ukraine. There is no mystery here. Trump is a Russian asset. He has been a Russian asset since the mid-eighties, it’s just that nobody wants to admit it. They somehow feel that it is better to allow Trump, Putin and Russia to destroy the U.S. than to admit that they were so incompetent that they allowed a Russian asset to become president.

    ICE has been operating in Connecticut, back to their old tricks, arresting parents waiting at school bus stops waiting for their children. And, Republicans use the fact that the DSA wants to defund ICE as some crazy plan.

    Gloria Steinham has died. I did not know this, but her first big article was an undercover piece where she pretended to be a Playboy Bunny. She wrote about the long hours and little pay, essentially how these women were being exploited to make money for Hugh Hefner. Barbara Walters wrote a feature on Playboy Bunnies at the same time. She presented the entire affair as charming and funny. Jesus.

    The White House is evidently already preparing for an onslaught of instigations should he Democrats take over the House and Senate. I am not at all sure that this will come about. I cannot see that the Democrats will be any different than they were when Obama was in office (moving forward) and when Biden was in office (not moving at all). The Democrats want to get back to “normal.” They do not want to impeach, investigate, charge. They are afraid, too afraid to uphold justice. This is why the DSA is being so successful.

    Books:

    Stealing Elections, American Style by David Walbert. Never has the federal government been so involved in controlling elections with measures such as gerrymandering, eliminating mail in voting, checking voters’ lists for non-citizens (or people whose names sound like they may not be citizens).

    What is Life Worth? By Kenneth Feinberg. The fund to compensate 9/11 victims.

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

  • THE DEMOCRATS, THE DSA, JIMMY CARTER AND GAUGUIN

    Wednesday 2 September 2026

    ARTICLE:

    Popli, Nik ( ) “As Democratic socialists gain ground, Republicans rejoice.” Time Magazine.

    · The membership of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has surged past 120,000. Members have toppled establishment-backed candidates all over the country.

    · “Bernie Sanders made democratic socialism legible to billions of Americans; AOC gave it a younger national face; Mandani demonstrated that a socialist could defeat the democratic establishment, govern a major city and then help elect more socialists behind him. But with the midterms looming, the question is how far the model travels.”

    · Note: Francesca Hong lost the Democratic primary for governor to Milwaukee County executive David Crowley. Republicans used off the cuff statements like abolishing the police, to canceling tjanksgiving. And then, after Jaime Harrison the former Democratic national Committee Chairman dismissed the DSA with a statement I don’t exactly understand. “We aren’t seeing DSA win im places that are coree to winning the majority.” Then a week later, DSA ember Angie Nixon defeatrd establishment favorite Alex Vindman for the Democratic Senate primary in Florida, despite being outraised more than 16 to 1. Meanwhile, the Republicans are glowing with delight trying to paint the entire party as a left wing, Marxist group.

    · According to a CN poll released July 30, a third of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters now identify as Democratic socialists.

    · As a group it advocates abolishing the Senate, eliminating police and prisons, dismantling ICE, closing oversea military bases, bringing large corporations under public ownership.

    · Matt Bennett of the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way is preparing a $15 million effort to discredit democratic socialism ahead of 2028.

    · It’s not a working class group.

    · Arrive angry about “a landlord, a hospital bill, student debt, or a war overseas.” By attaching these to he rapid concentration of wealth and power, they gie a home for disparate complaint.

    · Many are fed up with U.S. military aid to Israel.

    · The national organization declined to renew its endorsement of her in 2024 after a disagreement about Israel.

    · Disagreements about the fundamentals on the central documents. Whether to run as part of the Democratic Party – getting votes.

    DAILY NEWS NOTES

    · Attacks by U.S. on Iran and return attacks on Jourdan and other places.

    BOOKS YOU SHOULD READ

    Unger, Craig (2024) “Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History o the Treason that Stole the White House.”

    Less than two weeks after the Shah arrived in the United States to receive cancer treatment Jimmy Carter was (erroneously) told he couldn’t get anywhere else in the world, on November 4, 1979, hundreds of Iranians stormed the American embassy and took seventy hostages as they demanded the extradition of the Shah. (14)

    ART

    GAUGUIN

    Hanson, Lawrence and Elizabeth (1954) “Noble Savage: The Life of Paul Gauguin.”

    In 1855, when Gauguin’s paternal grandfather died Paul and his mother relocated to France. Suddenly, the benefits of being a member of a wealthy elite family vanished and Paul was just another fairly poor student who could hardly speak French. At 17 he decided he wanted to go to sea. His mother objected but there was little you could do with Paul.

    When Paul first told Mette, she recognized the rolling gate that characterized him and not his business colleagues. Six years at sea has “…turned him from a weedy boy into a powerful man and confirmed his sense of superiority.” When he returned in 1871 his mother was dead and everything she owned destroyed by the Prussians. But, her last thought was of him and arranging a man to take care of him when he returned.

    https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-global-life-of-paul-gauguin/7wVBgBK4f2CjGg?hl=en

    nLIFE AND NEWS NOTES FROM AN ELDERLY, CHILDLESS, OVEREDUCATED LADY WORKING AWAY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK.

  • 10 WAYS AMERICA IS WEAKER.

    Saturday, Sunday 29-30 August 2026

    ARTICLE: Hastings, Rob (3/27/26) “My life inside Putin’s war machine – and why I defected.” The I Paper.

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES FROM AN ELDERLY, CHILDLESS, OVER-EDUCATED CAT LADY BEAVERING AWAY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK

    · Igor Salikov’s life is in danger because he defected to the West. But, after witnessing the depravity of Vladimir Putin’s military, including the Wagner mercenary group, he feels compelled to reveal his experiences.

    · In 2022 Salikov was given notice that Russia would be invading Ukraine and he was to fly right into Kyiv to capture the headquarters of the SBU, the Security Services of Ukraine. He was reassured that they would be met with friendly Ukrainians.

    · According to the I Paper, he witnessed war crimes against women and children and felt himself lied to about the need for the war. In 2023, he found a way of escaping Russia completely and gave evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC). He now hopes Ukraine will win.

    · In 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved, he, like many other former military men, found himself without a job. Many of these men joined criminal gangs. Igor was offered a security job to protect a sheikh in the Middle East. He then worked as a mercenary for several firms. These firms became Putin’s dirty work forces, able to do jobs for which Putin didn’t have to take responsibility.

    · Putin, according to Igor, never liked the military understanding it was the only force that could depose him. Igor maintains that discord within the military was the reason Putin invaded Crimea in 2014 – to make the military unite behind him.

    · He believed at the time that the people in Donbas wanted to rebel against Kyiv. He found out when he went there, this wasn’t true.

    · Note: Igor’s book: “Rusia’s Wagner Group.” Forthcoming book: “Putin’s ‘Viper’ Detachment.”

    · Igor was wounded in Crimea then found out that the Wagner group had a job for him. When he arrived at the “tent city” everyone was talking about Nazi Germany. It’s streets were named after Hitler’s lieutenants and concentration camps.

    · Wagner had been founded by Prigozhin, a convicted thief who became a millionaire businessman. According to the I news, “Salikov realized this was a man without any morals.” Wagner was accused of massacres in Mali and the Central African Republic while protecting the Kremlin’s allies and business interests.

    · “No part of this plan worked,” Igor says of the plan to overtake the security forces in Kyiv. “Salikov was horrified by the “senseless fighting”” He managed to get his unit withdrawn early from Ukraine, but was then ordered back.

    · He was on a watchlist that prevented him from going over the border. He bribed his way off the list for 24 hours and flew to Turkey and then onto North Cyprus. He then flew to Mexico.

    · Igor wishes Prigozhin had gone through with his attempted coup in 2023, when he got so angry with the Kremlin he led tanks towards Moscow.

    Sunday 30 Augut 2026

    ARTICLE: Walt, Stephen M. (8/17/26) “The top 10 ways Trump has made America weaker. Foreign Policy.

    · “As Trump’s. Second term nears the midway point. There can be little doubt that he is one of the most consequential presidents in U.S. history. Unfortunately, almost all the consequences of his actions have been harmful, not just for most of the people in the United States, but also for America’s relative power and standing in the world. His cronies and family members may be reaping the benefits, but the cumulative impact of his actions will not. Will be not a return to greatness, but a weaker and more divided America.”

    Here are ten ways Trump is making the U.S. weaker.

    · 1) Destroying confidence in U.S. promises. “As he did throughout his litigious and bankruptcy prone business career, Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that his threats are mostly empty bluster and his pledges mean nothing.”

    · This is one of he reasons he is having problems ending the war in Iran. They can’t believe a word he says. Other countries are looking for more reliable partners.

    · 2) Reducing U.S. military capability. “… I do not doubt that if Trump could turn the armed forces into a loyal instrument of his own power, he would.”

    · 3) Dismantling diplomatic capacity. This could take decades to rebuild. The U.S. has withdrawn from more than 60 international organizations. The diplomats he chooses to select are a small group of amateur diplomats like Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Vance.

    · 4) Undermining U.S. scientific preeminence. One of the foundations of the United State’s global power now rests on “ignorant and unqualified science skeptics”…and actively encouraged the belief that ignorance is preferable to knowledge and expertise.”

    · 5) Missing the green transition.

    · 6) Eroding the rule of law. Trump has insulated himself from legal constraints and used the legal system to conduct vendettas.

    · 7) Threatening electoral integrity. “Nothing could be more corrosive to a sense of patriotism and civic unity than a belief that elections are constantly being rigged. And that’s exactly what Trump and his minions have been doing.”

    · 8) Abandoning checks and balances. “When presidents can do anything they want without having to gain public support or even make the case to Congress, you are more likely to get I’ll conceived debacles such as the current Iran war.”

    · 9) Abandoning civil discourse. “More than anyone else, Trump is responsible for the coarsening and the vulgarity of US political discourse. It’s partly his willingness and ability to lie shamelessly, a trait that has infected most of the Republican Party. But it is also his reliance on vulgar insults, violent rhetoric, rambling rants portraying opponents as criminals, traitors or worse, and his all too evident contempt for half of the citizens of the country.”

    · 10) Torching U.S. soft power.

    · Trump’s “The main accomplishment during his second term has been to enrich himself and his cronies.”

    · “His family will be a lot richer when his term ends, but the country will be weaker, sicker and angrier…. Make America Great Again was always just a scam.

    ARTICLE: Munayyer, Yousef (3/10/26) “Why Netanyahu chose to strike Iran now. Foreign Policy.

    · Netanyahu admitted that war with Iran was something he has “longed to do for 40 years.”

    · As Sen. Chris Van Hollen put it, Netanyahu “finally found a president stupid enough to attack Iran.”

    ARTICLE WORTH READING

    ARTICLE: I News (8/29/26) “Paranoid Putin is shutting down the internet to block bad news.” I News

    THE PERSON WE DONOR WANT AS DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE

  • How America is Weaker

    Saturday, Sunday 29-30 August 2026

    ARTICLE: Hastings, Rob (3/27/26) “My life inside Putin’s war machine – and why I defected.” The I Paper.

    LIFE AND NEWS NOTES FROM AN ELDERLY, CHILDLESS, OVER-EDUCATED CAT LADY BEAVERING AWAY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK

    · Igor Salikov’s life is in danger because he defected to the West. But, after witnessing the depravity of Vladimir Putin’s military, including the Wagner mercenary group, he feels compelled to reveal his experiences.

    · In 2022 Salikov was given notice that Russia would be invading Ukraine and he was to fly right into Kyiv to capture the headquarters of the SBU, the Security Services of Ukraine. He was reassured that they would be met with friendly Ukrainians.

    · According to the I Paper, he witnessed war crimes against women and children and felt himself lied to about the need for the war. In 2023, he found a way of escaping Russia completely and gave evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC). He now hopes Ukraine will win.

    · In 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved, he, like many other former military men, found himself without a job. Many of these men joined criminal gangs. Igor was offered a security job to protect a sheikh in the Middle East. He then worked as a mercenary for several firms. These firms became Putin’s dirty work forces, able to do jobs for which Putin didn’t have to take responsibility.

    · Putin, according to Igor, never liked the military understanding it was the only force that could depose him. Igor maintains that discord within the military was the reason Putin invaded Crimea in 2014 – to make the military unite behind him.

    · He believed at the time that the people in Donbas wanted to rebel against Kyiv. He found out when he went there, this wasn’t true.

    · Note: Igor’s book: “Rusia’s Wagner Group.” Forthcoming book: “Putin’s ‘Viper’ Detachment.”

    · Igor was wounded in Crimea then found out that the Wagner group had a job for him. When he arrived at the “tent city” everyone was talking about Nazi Germany. It’s streets were named after Hitler’s lieutenants and concentration camps.

    · Wagner had been founded by Prigozhin, a convicted thief who became a millionaire businessman. According to the I news, “Salikov realized this was a man without any morals.” Wagner was accused of massacres in Mali and the Central African Republic while protecting the Kremlin’s allies and business interests.

    · “No part of this plan worked,” Igor says of the plan to overtake the security forces in Kyiv. “Salikov was horrified by the “senseless fighting”” He managed to get his unit withdrawn early from Ukraine, but was then ordered back.

    · He was on a watchlist that prevented him from going over the border. He bribed his way off the list for 24 hours and flew to Turkey and then onto North Cyprus. He then flew to Mexico.

    · Igor wishes Prigozhin had gone through with his attempted coup in 2023, when he got so angry with the Kremlin he led tanks towards Moscow.

    Sunday 30 Augut 2026

    ARTICLE: Walt, Stephen M. (8/17/26) “The top 10 ways Trump has made America weaker. Foreign Policy.

    · “As Trump’s. Second term nears the midway point. There can be little doubt that he is one of the most consequential presidents in U.S. history. Unfortunately, almost all the consequences of his actions have been harmful, not just for most of the people in the United States, but also for America’s relative power and standing in the world. His cronies and family members may be reaping the benefits, but the cumulative impact of his actions will not. Will be not a return to greatness, but a weaker and more divided America.”

    · 1) Destroying confidence in U.S. promises. “As he did throughout his litigious and bankruptcy prone business career, Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that his threats are mostly empty bluster and his pledges mean nothing.

    · This is one of he reasons he is having problems ending the war in Iran. They can’t believe a word he says. Other countries are looking for more reliable partners.

    · 2) Reducing U.S. military capability. “… I do not doubt that if Trump could turn the armed forces into a loyal instrument of his own power, he would.”

    · 3) Dismantling diplomatic capacity. This could take decades to rebuilt. The U.s. has withdrawn from more than 60 international organizations. The diplomats he chooses to select, a small group are amateur diplomats like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Vance.

    · 4) Undermining U.S. scientific preeminence. One of the foundations of the United State’s global power now rests on “ignorant and unqualified science skeptics”…and actively encouraged the belief that ignorance is preferable to knowledge and expertise.”

    · 5) Missing the green transition.

    · 6) Eroding the rule of law. Trump has insulated himself from legal constraints and used the legal system to conduct endettas.

    · 7) Threatening electoral integrity. “Nothing could be more corrosive to a sense of patriotism and civic unity than a belief that elections are constantly being rigged. And that’s exactly what Trump and his minions have been doing.”

    · 8) Abandoning checks and balances. “When presidents can do anything they want without having to gain public support or even make the case to Congress, you are more likely to get I’ll conceived debacles such as the current Iran war.”

    · 9) Abandoning civil discourse. “More than anyone else, Trump is responsible for the coarsening and the vulgarity of US political discourse. It’s partly his willingness and ability to lie shamelessly, A trait that has infected most of the Republican Party. But it is also his reliance on vulgar insults, violent rhetoric, rambling rants portraying opponents as criminals, traitors or worse, and his all too evident contempt for half of the citizens of the country.”

    · 10) Torching U.S. soft power.

    · Trump’s “The main accomplishment during his second term has been to enrich himself and his cronies.”

    · “His family will be a lot richer when his term ends, but the country will be weaker, sicker and angrier…. Make America Great Again was always just a scam.

    ARTICLE: Munayyer, Yousef (3/10/26) “Why Netanyahu chose to strike Iran now. Foreign Policy.

    · Netanyahu admitted that war with Iran was something he has “longed to do for 40 years.”

    · As Sen. Chris Van Hollen put it, Netanyahu “finally found a president stupid enough to attack Iran.”

    Back yard. This morning.