Notations On Our World (Special Edition): On What Europe Thinks of the US & The View from Conservative Media on #Trump

We wanted to report on the latest from Le Monde Diplomatic as the US Election Scene unfolds.   It is interesting reading and available at here  f Le Monde diplomatique (EN) - September 2015 : http://www.exacteditions.com/browse/373/399/45995/3/1 

The headline is telling.  This is as America awaits the arrival of the Holy Father later on in September.   We also wanted to share this from the Conservative Media on the Trump campaign and its' views (Available by clicking here).     

Notations On Our World: On the US Political Scene

The US Presidential Campaign season is in full swing and our team has been on a continued assessment of the state of the United States.    It is still a bit early--but the US polling-industrial complex has been hard at work and a day does not pass by with one poll or another anointing winners or losers.   This is as the rhetoric continues to be ever so heated especially as the Iran Deal continues to come up for Vote in Congress on September 17.   Donald Trump and Ted Cruz will be teaming up for a rally to oppose what they deem is a bad deal.    Our team found The Economist' KAL depiction of  the State of the Presidential Campaign in the United States to be sobering but also hilarious at the same time:

It is Labor Day in the United States.    President Obama spoke at an event in Boston and all candidates are attending labor day events.   Vice President Biden is in Pennsylvania at an event with the AFL-CIO as speculation over his potential candidacy mounts and as Donald Trump continues to mount a serious challenge which was underscored with this on Time Magazine not so along ago.    Mr. Trump has continued to dominate the headlines ever more. 

It is also quite remarkable how Donald Trump and Jeb Bush have been going at it.    Bush's main contention has been that Trump is not "Conservative Enough" and does not believe in Conservative principles.  It will quite interesting to see how Jeb deals with Stephen Colbert as his new show debuts on CBS on September 8.     Jeb used the appearance as a fundraising tool--but apparently did not bother to let Mr Colbert who used the occasion to mock Jeb Bush with a fundraiser to support the Yellow Ribbon Fund supporting veterans.     What is clear is that Trump will not go away--although he did sign a pledge that the Republican National Committee requested from all the candidates.   

Our team was in full agreement with the Fortune's Geoff Colvin when he noted in his September 1 Power sheet on Leaders that, "...America's love affair with non-politician politicians is looking like more than just a fling, and the trend is important for all leaders..."    It is also interesting how those who were considered the favorites are being questioned constantly.   We could not help but be amused though at Sarah Palin as she noted that all should speak "American"--a clear shot at Jeb Bush.

As we went to press, we did not receive reports on any candidate officially dropping out.   We have received reports that former Governor Perry of Texas has profound challenges and has lost a number of key staff members.    This is as he along with others continue to be in the single digits in the existing polls being done almost daily now.    One has to look long and hard to find what the likes of Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Bobby Jindal or others are up to unless they happen to say something to catch a headline--such as their support for the jailed Kentucky County Clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The Democrats, though, are continuing onward.   Hillary Clinton attempted a reset with a very revealing interview with Andrea Mitchell.   It appears that the email controversy is finally starting to sink in.    This is as the Democrats are continuing onward with their  ongoing internal debate especially as the speculation over a Biden candidacy mounts.  Bernie Sanders is leading Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire by some 9 points in one of the latest polls we reviewed.    Our team will continue to be on the "prowl" assessing the US election scene especially as excitement mounts for the 2nd Presidential Debate for the Republicans coming up on September 16 on CNN. 

As we went to press, we just received reports here at our Virtual Studios  that Lawrence Lessig has just announced his run for the Presidency after having One Million Dollar in Pledges in a crowdfunding campaign that exceeded One Million Dollars by Labor Day--which is today.    We were also quite startled to see a reports on One America News about a pending revolt against the Speaker of the House.     This is as Congress is back to work--Our team's assessment is that the Speakership of Mr. Boehner is not in danger.   It appears that what we deem the "deep conservatives" seem to not agree with the Speaker's stance on a number of issues.     

We find it ever so fun and exciting to be witness to history.... 

Notations From the Grid (weekend edition): On the day after re: #TheIranDeal

It has been quite a weekend yet again around The World as our team stepped back to reflect upon the World and look to a new week.    It was quite starting as we released this earlier during our "Daily Roundup":

On #Israel watch with this admonition to @netanyahu :You lost. Time to rehabilitate http://t.co/KByzC8YEaV

— The Daily Outsider (@DailyOutsider) September 6, 2015

It underscores the challenges at hand for the Israeli Prime Minister.    This is as The Wall Street Journal came out in its weekend editorial page underscoring the implicit message that the United States has been yet again fooled because Khameini is now saying the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) has to have its' say:

What is important to underscore is that the Parliamentary Speaker, Ali Larijani (on a recent trip to New York) has expressed support for it.

It is a developing story and our team will continue to monitor it over the ensuing weeks.

The Friday Musical Interlude: Marc Antoine Performs

It is Friday here in #Outsiders and once again time for the Friday Musical Interlude.    Our team has chosen Marc Antoine as the artist of the Week.    We hope all enjoy this selection.   We also wish all in the United States a restful and joyous labor day weekend as all in the United States bid farewell to summer and embrace Fall.

We will "dark" during the labor day weekend.   We look forward to be of service as we continue onward with on-going initiatives and gear up for new initiatives here throughout the #outsider properties.

Notations on Our World: On #SyriaRefugees

The refugee crisis has reached epic proportions.  The World has been witness to the tragedy on an hour by hour basis as people have been trying to make their way.  This From the Economist of London showcased the flow in a dramatic way: 

The heart-wrenching image of the young Syrian child, Aylan, as his lifeless body was washed up the shores in Turkey was heartbreaking.   It emerged that the Syrian family  Aylan wanted to go to Canada and Canada rejected the Asylum application filed by his family.   Canada has denied that an  application was in fact filed.   It was also interesting that the Canadian  Immigration Minister suspended his campaign to work on the refugee issue and as the Canadian Prime Minister Steven  Harper expressed shocked at the image of the child. 

Europe's initial reaction was captured in this New York Times Editorial--The image was telling:

The E.U. reacts to images of a drowned Syrian boy. For more from Patrick Chappatte: http://nyti.ms/1dpe553
Posted by The New York Times Opinion on Thursday, September 3, 2015 

But after Aylan's image was shown all around the World, it was the simple statement from the Wall Street Journal said it all:  

His name was Aylan. He was three years old. “It is not only immigrants who are drowning in the Mediterranean, it is also our humanity.”
Posted by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, September 3, 2015

As all saw in the "Daily Update",   Aylan's Father asked one thing:  Let him be the last one. It is of note that as we went to press, The UK Prime Minister reversed his stance and said that the UK will take in more refugees.   It must also be noted that there are some 54 Million People who have been displaced around the World--14 Million of them Syrians.   

Notations On Our World: On the Iran Deal

The Iran Deal is done.    The Obama Adminstration has secured the necessary votes to sustain the President's Veto.   This is as in a recent interview with Al Monitor's Barbara Slavin, The Iranian Majlis (Parliament) speaker, Ali Larijani (a former negotiator himself) praised the President's wisdom in this regard.   The magic number, though, is 41 to secure a filibuster proof majority so that the President does not have to wield his veto pen.   Our team found it quite hilarious that Roger Cohen of the New York Time referred to the Iran Deal as the "Obamacare of Foreign Policy".   His final closing thoughts was telling, though: "...Here’s some breaking news for Aipac: Iran is a nuclear-threshold state today. The great merit of the deal is to slash and ring-fence acquired Iranian nuclear capacity until 2030. To say that is not in Israel’s security interest is utterly unpersuasive...."   

This morning's New York Times reported on the strategy by the Democrats to secure the deal from day one.    The House Democratic Caucus (with few exceptions) has pretty much held together as well.     However, there will be moves made by the GOP caucus for a "Plan B" which includes a renewal of the Iran Sanctions Act for an additional 10 years.   The so-called Plan B includes moves by US States as noted in a recent Al Monitor Report.   Senator Rubio and Governor Walker came out noting that they would abrogate the deal on day one and that it does not have any "legal standing".    They say they will get US allies to go along with it.   However the reality is otherwise as Iran's emergence has already begun.     The President is also going to be "pressing the flesh" as he hosts King Salman of Saudi Arabia at the White House.

This depicition the Economist' KAL said it all on the achievement by the President:

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): Late Breaking News on the #IranDeal (With One More late breaking development)

As our team has been assessing the World today, it was noteworthy as the 34th Vote to ensure a Veto-Proof Majority was secured by the White House on the Iran Deal.   US Senator Barbara Milkuksi of Maryland is the 34th Vote needed to secure the Iran Vote and to avoid a Congressional override of the Veto.   This is as the next goal will be to achieve a "filibuster proof" majority as noted by i24news within the past few hours:



This is a developing story as the Iranian Foreign Minister is continuing his second tour of Arab Capitals to explain the deal.     The Secretary of State is right now speaking live in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center on the Iran Deal to reflect upon the deal as he is mounting a robust defense of the deal.       As we went to press, he's laying out the robust support for Israel that the Obama Administration has.    He reflected upon his order to land at Ben Gurion during the Gaza War as one sign of his profound commitment as he noted that "I take a back seat to no one on my commitment to Israel".    

Our team just received this from JINSA though as the opposition to the deal continues and as @Haaretz just reported that the Israeli Prime Minister is unlikely to back down despite this late breaking development: 

New Report: Iran Nuclear Deal Threatens U.S. Interests and Increases Probability of Military Conflict

Former U.S. Military Officials Launch Educational Campaign

Click to download the full report

Washington, D.C. - The Iran Strategy Council is launching an aggressive national campaign to educate Americans regarding the Iran Nuclear Deal. In its new report titled, Assessment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan, the JINSA-commissioned Council concludes that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will not only fail to peacefully prevent a nuclear Iran-but it will threaten vital American interests while increasing the probability of military conflict as the agreement sunsets. 

 

"We assess that The JCPOA will enable Iran to increase support for terrorist and insurgent proxies, aggravate sectarian conflict and trigger both nuclear and conventional proliferation cascades," the Iran Strategy Council Report concludes. "It will provide the expansionist regime in Tehran with access to resources, technology and international arms markets required to bolster offensive military capabilities in the vital Persian Gulf region, acquire long-range ballistic missiles and develop other major weapons systems."

"Implementing JCPOA will have significant strategic consequences for our interests and allies in the region. It is imperative that policymakers understand these and being planning for how to address them now. Our group of retired senior military leaders has sought to provide an objective analysis of the deal's impact and what that might mean for U.S. policy," said Retired General James Conway, former Commandant of the Marine Corps and Retired Air Force General Chuck Wald, former Deputy Commander of the U.S. European Command.

 

"Contrary to the false choice between support for the JCPOA and military confrontation, the agreement increases both the probability and danger of hostilities with Iran," the report notes. "Given the deleterious strategic consequences to the United States, implementation of the JCPOA will demand increased political and military engagement in the Middle East that carries significantly greater risks and costs relative to current planning assumptions."

 

The Iran Strategy Council is an organization of former top senior military senior officials and defense analysts with the mission of educating audiences on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and how it will make the United States and its allies less safe and war with Iran and its proxies more likely. The Council will address the likelihood of a nuclear arms race, strengthening terrorist networks such as Hamas and Hezbollah, increasing the chances of proxy wars, the U.S. needs for enhanced missile defense technology in response to Iran's permissible ICBM research, and how much would the U.S. military have to increase its land-based and naval presence in the region - at a time when legally mandated budget cuts to the U.S. military are already reducing America's security capabilities.  

 

Members of the Iran Strategy Council Include:

General James Conway, USMC (ret.) - Council Co-Chair

34th Commandant of the Marine Corps

General Charles Wald, USAF (ret.) - Council Co-Chair

Former Deputy Commander of United States European Command (EUCOM)

Admiral Mark Fitzgerald, USN (ret.)

Former Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa

General Lou Wagner, USA (ret.)

Former Commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command

Lieutenant General Michael D. Barbero, USA (ret.)

Former Director, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization

Vice Admiral John Bird, USN (ret.)

Former Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, with an area of responsibility of more than 48 million square miles including 36 maritime countries

Lieutenant General David Deptula, USAF (ret.)

Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, U.S. Air Force Headquarters

Major General Lawrence Stutzriem, USAF (ret.)

Former Director, Plans, Policy, and Strategy, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command

The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) was founded in 1976 as a non-profit, non-partisan organization to advocate on behalf of a strong United States national security posture. Visit JINSA online atwww.jinsa.org.

Click here to download the full report