Notations On Our World: On a Good Day For International Law re: #Srebenica & @RealDonaldTrump

It has been quite a day in our World as  we have been monitoring reports out of the Hague as the former Bosnian Leader  Radovan Karadzic has been found guilty of multiple crimes against humanity and has imposed a 40-year sentence with credit for time served. underscores how International Law can be an effective and crucial tool for Justice.   As we're focused on Europe, we wanted to note that we have also been continuing to assess the aftermath of Belgium.   Belgium is in its' second day of morning as Senior Belgian Ministers offered their resignations in light of intelligence failures that led to the horrific day of death and destruction.  We have also been assessing the aftermath of the UK Budget Debate as George Osborne was before the UK Parliament on it.   

Beyond the Hague, it was also of interest as we have been seeing reports on the Syrian Army entering Palmyra and reports out of Iraq as the Iraqi Army has begun a push to retake Mosul.     President Obama has been continuing his trip of Latin America as he went on from Cuba to Argentina where he admonished Senator Cruz for his call to "patrol" Muslim neighborhoods.    Some of the reporting this morning from the @Washington Post  underscores the continued nervousness by Republicans on the continued fight over the nomination as reflected here:

The GOP — and its big funders — scramble to insulate Congress from Trump

The Koch political network may abandon Trump if he is the presidential nominee. The ridiculous nature of the debate was underscored by the battle between Senator Cruz and Mr. Trump regarding their wives.  It was interesting how Senator Cruz' defense took a line from the Movie the American President which prompted another tweet from Mr Trump  as Senator Cruz also went after The New York Police Commissioner.     Senator Cruz was reminded by President Obama that Senator Cruz' Father escaped the very thing he was now advocating--surveillance of Muslims.     Although we had noted that we will not be assessing the state of the US Political Environment with polls, we have come to realize that it is a crucial tool as we report the latest "snapshot" from Real Clear Politics: Battle for the White HouseRCP Poll Averages National Delegates Wisconsin Trump43.0 Trump739 Trump32.5 Cruz30.3 Cruz465 Cruz27.5 Kasich19.1 Kasich143 Kasich13.5 New York Pennsylvania California Trump54.5 Trump34.5 Trump33.7 Cruz11.5 Kasich20.0 Cruz23.0 Kasich9.5 Cruz18.5 Kasich16.3 National Delegates Wisconsin Clinton51.5 Clinton1690 Clinton46.5 Sanders42.5 Sanders946 Sanders44.0 New York Pennsylvania California Clinton63.0 Clinton55.0 Clinton47.0 Sanders28.5 Sanders27.5 Sanders38.0 The next major struggle is in Wisconsin on April 5 and our view is that Scott Walker will pull out all the stops to derail Donald Trump.   Our view is that there is going to be an increased chance of a contested convention even though Trump underscores the fact that he would secure it.

Notations On Our World: On the aftermath of #BrusselsAttacks , #Islam & #USElections & Other Thoughts

Belgium Today (Source: NDTV) 

The scenes from Brusseles today were very moving.    People throughout Belgium came together today for a moment of silence to remember the victims of the attacks.   European Union Leaders were joined at EU Headquarters by the King and Queen of Belgium in a moment of silence.   Our founder noted a touching scene shown on Sky News as a Belgian Police Officer was comforting a distraught Muslim Woman.

 Based on reports we have reviewed as we went to press, 31 people have unfortunately died and over 200 people have been injured.    Brussels Airport is closed today--although reporting we saw indicates that some of the cargo flights have left.    We are also reviewing reports that apparently Belgian Intelligence had precise intelligence on when the strikes were going to occur--we are not in a position to assess this as the investigations are continuing and the Belgian Federal Prosecutor continues to provide updates as raids are continuing throughout Belgium.

As the World is remembering the victims and is in solidatiry with the people of Belgium, there are some hard questions before it.     As we went to press here, we just received reports of Turkish President Edrogan noting that one of the attackers was detained and subsequently deported back in 2015.   What is also  staggering that Belgium has the largest per capita members of #Daesh.    What is also disturbing is how some of these are second and third generation Belgians who apparently have never been fully intergrated into Belgian society.    Some of the neighborhoods in Brusseles are apparently no go areas for Belgian Police.      As some of the harsh realities are before us, the anti-Muslim  rhetoric by the Republican Candidates were also notable.   This is a sampling as reporteds by the Guardian of London yesterday: 

We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.

We need to secure the southern border to prevent terrorist infiltration.

– Texas senator Ted Cruz

US presidential candidates respond to Brussels attacks

The influence of Frank Gaffney was very evident in this comment.    The Heritage Foundation's Daily Signal released this view on what must be done:

After Brussels attacks, U.S. must not repeat Europe's mistakes. Shutting down foreign fighter pipelines is important. So too are sensible and proactive counterterrorism investigations here that interdict potential terror threats before they start to look like Paris and Brussels and responsible immigration and border security policies, argues The Heritage Foundation's James Carafano.

Brussels attack shows lawful intelligence collection has never been more important. The United States cannot focus its attention solely on state actors. We face numerous challenges from established world powers, emerging states, and elusive terrorist organizations. As hotbeds of violence and aggression sprout up in many parts of the globe, we cannot neglect the importance of accurate and timely information in combating these threats, writes The Heritage Foundation's Cully Stimson.

Mr. Trump went one step further by noting that he would order water boarding and more.   He laid it out in an interview on  Bloomberg that was featured on NDTV within the past few hours.      What was notable was the condemenation not just from across the US Political Spectrum, but Worldwide.    The British Home Secretary's condemenation was just one example of it.    It was also quite heartening to see a very reasoned debate on NDTV' in India.   The World was reminded that India has sent "zero".    It was also underscored that the bulk of the fighting and dying is being done by Muslims--Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians.    It must be noted that India is dealing with its' own insurgency and the continued challenges in Kashmir as there are reports a former Pakistani Army Soldier may be planning attacks.  If and when the clip is available on NDTV, we will feature it.   

As NDTV's Barkha Dut underscored the obnoxious and boring views of the US Presidential Candidates, one reality was featured on Facebook that was quite telling:   







We have also been assessing the state of the US Election Campaign as the Trump juggernaut continues and as the Democrats continue to battle it out.   Jeb Bush came out in support of Ted Cruz today.  It was also of note as we went to press that  our team reviewed reports that Mr. Trump and Mr. Giulani said that  Mr. Obama had to cut his trip short because it was Obama's Pearl Harbor.  Mr. Obama has continued his trip as he concluded his very interesting Cuba Trip which we hope to feature in a future edition of Notations with a focus on the Americas: 
:

CUBAMA!! (Source:  The Economist) 

We also wanted to remember the political prisoners in Iran as well--As we went to press, we saw reports of sit-ins by family members to protest their detention at the notorious Evin Prison which we will be assessing as well.    

Truly Challenging times....

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): On a Black Day For Belgium & The World

We have been witness yet again to a Black day in Belgium  and our World as three blasts at two different locations have occurred in Brussels.    The first two explosions occurred at the departure hall at Brussels Airport and the third one at the Metro Station near European Union Headquarters.     The reports so far reflect 34 people so far having been killed in the attacks.and almost 106  people apparently have been injured.   

Belgium has ordered a "stay in your place" order as The British Prime Minister has ordered the Belgian Flag to be raised at 10 Downing Street:

It signifies that the World stands with Belgium and Europe.   

 As we have been assessing the latest, Sky News and Israel 24 along with  +FRANCE 24 are now reporting that #Daesh is claiming responsibility for this attack.  US Presidential Candidates have also weighted in with their reaction with Mr. Trump calling for increased vigliance of Muslims yet again in the United States. 

 Words are not enough on this dark day but we here @ #Outsiders will only remind the World that we will stand united and We Shall Overcome to defeat the cancer of Terrorism.