Law, Power, and Justice

SUNDAY 10 MARCH 2024

SUNDAY News Notes:

UKAINE

• The Moscow Times (3/9/2024) is reporting on growing sentiments in Finland that the Kremlin has been engaging in a “hybrid attack” to punish Finland for moving from its traditional neutral status to a NATO ally.
• Finland had to close down its border with Russia because of the mobilization of thousands of asylum seekers by the Kremlin.
• For decades, people had moved back and forth over the border between the two countries, Russians going over to buy cherished Western goods.  Dual-citizens traveled to see relatives.
• This has now become much more difficult.
• Dual citizens feel as if they are being regarded as a threat.
• In the recent presidential campaign, seven out of nine candidates said they would support retroactively revoking dual citizen status if people refused to relinquish their Russian citizenship.
• This is partly because of Putin’s repeated threat to “protect” Russians no matter where they live.  (Note: This argument is used for invading Ukraine.  Putin maintains that Ukraine is part of Russia.)
• There are also threats to bar dual nationals from buying property arguing that this provides a “soft spot” for Putin to use.
• To give up Russian citizenship, the person has to file extensive documentation to prove they have no unfulfilled military service, debts, etc.  To file these papers, they have to go to a Russian embassy. 
• The irony here is that people who have been most critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are the people who would have the most difficulty in dealing with a Russian embassy staff. 
• Note: Finland has a Prime Minister.  It shares a 1300 kilometer border with Russia. 

ISRAEL: NYT

• Biden continues to criticize Netanyahu.
• Army ship has been sent to build pier.  (Note: I think this is going to be a disaster).
• Columnist Thomas Friedman:

US: POLITICS: NYT

• Trump’s campaign begins with Trump mocking Biden’s stutter.
• Thomas Friedman (Note: I know, I hate to quote him). 
• “Americans may not know they’re at war with Iran, but Iran’s Revolutionary Guards know for sure they are in a shadow war with America through their proxies.”
• This is what Friedman calls the “other Middle East war.”  This other Middle East war kicked into high gear after October 7.  Under the cover of the war on Gaza, the Iranians “clearly took a decision to rev up all its proxies” and “tried to see if it could significantly degrade the US network of facilities in Iraq, eastern Syria and northers Jordan.”
•  

US: MONEY IN POLITICS: NYT

• Musk’s “charitable donations” benefit himself.