Paradise, California: a foothill town that occupies a ridge top that overlooks the northern section of the Sacramento Valley. This town of 27,000 residents enjoys warm days over the heat of the valley found in its neighbor, Chico, which is bisected by the Sacramento River. Chico is a college town, home of Chico State University. The students are a presence on the local landscape. But not many make it up the hill to Paradise. Not muchthere for the under 25 crowd. Paradise has a few chain restaurants, some shopping, and mostly those necessities for the retired life.
The wildfire that has transformed this formerly vibrant community has destroyed the town, reducing almost 7,000 structures to smoking rubble. More than 30 citizens have died in the inferno and many more are missing. PG&E appears to again have been culpable as power lines are suspected to have been the source of the fire. Evacuation orders came too late for the dead, and Cal Fire appears to have been late to the game. Despite budget improvements, CalFire does not seem up to the job. A new, national fire service is in order-now.
The Grand Toady in the White House says the California forests are mismanaged. This could be an understatement. As another fire in Southern california terrorizes the coastal city of Malibu, the Governor -Elect Gavin Newsom will soon have his spin doctors spewing verbal garbage to reassure the terrorized citizenry. Poor Gavin, so much work to be done, too little skills in his possession. Time will tell how Paradise will recover, but if the City of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County is any example, it will be a long, long time before any real recovery takes place near Chico.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Friday, November 9, 2018
California FIRE Season: NOT OVER
The CAMP FIRE as it is called has notified all residents in the state that winter is not here yet. The town of Paradise, in Butte county, has been mostly destroyed by wind-whipped flames that roared out of the hills to the east and rolled down the mountain with nothing to stop it. Locals fled for their lives. CalFIre has stated that no amount of effort has been able to contain the flames. Thousands of structures, including homes, have been destroyed. Many lives have been lost. Reporting has been spotty, as few journalists have been able to approach the blaze.
More later
More later
Former Treasury Official Calls Out China
Henry Paulson, noted banker, economist, and political appointee, spoke out at an economic forum about China and today's global economy. He noted that since the Chinese joined the WTO 17 years ago, the country has continued to violate many of the provisions agreed to upon their entry into the organization. He stated unequivocally that this action(s) are unacceptable in today's global business world. He highlighted China's efforts to disregard intellectual property rights, the continuation of theft of trade secrets, and the many obstacles placed in front of US companies wishing to do business in China.
This comes on the heels of indictments against Chinese nationals in the US who have not registered as agents of foreign governments as required. These are officers in the PLA-the Peoples Liberation Army, also known as the Chinese Army. These individuals pursue scientific research under the guise od being researchers instead of the actual role as corporate spies working on behalf of the Communist Party whose leader5s have effectively ordered the theft of US intellectual property by any and every means possible without regard to treaty or stated government policy. This action comes at a time of intense debate about China's role in the world economy, and her efforts to stretch her influence globally, especially in Africa and East Asia. Her naval fleet continues to expand its influence in the South China Sea which could probably use a name change. Perhaps the geographers of the world could come up with a new name, rather than have China wield authority over each rock and ripple in the neighborhood.
See the insert in yesterday's NY Times- a propaganda piece intended to deflect criticisms of China's trade policies and her actions related to same. No doubt, the effort is made to alter US perceptions of China, which we will not until this neighborhood bully starts to act like a responsible partner as opposed to someone like the PLO.
This comes on the heels of indictments against Chinese nationals in the US who have not registered as agents of foreign governments as required. These are officers in the PLA-the Peoples Liberation Army, also known as the Chinese Army. These individuals pursue scientific research under the guise od being researchers instead of the actual role as corporate spies working on behalf of the Communist Party whose leader5s have effectively ordered the theft of US intellectual property by any and every means possible without regard to treaty or stated government policy. This action comes at a time of intense debate about China's role in the world economy, and her efforts to stretch her influence globally, especially in Africa and East Asia. Her naval fleet continues to expand its influence in the South China Sea which could probably use a name change. Perhaps the geographers of the world could come up with a new name, rather than have China wield authority over each rock and ripple in the neighborhood.
See the insert in yesterday's NY Times- a propaganda piece intended to deflect criticisms of China's trade policies and her actions related to same. No doubt, the effort is made to alter US perceptions of China, which we will not until this neighborhood bully starts to act like a responsible partner as opposed to someone like the PLO.
Monday, November 5, 2018
New York Times Addresses Yemen and the Saudi War
While the world has been focused on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, the war in Yemen continues apace. The world watches as the prospect of mass starvation looms over the civilian population. Rebels continue to offer resistance and the saudi led military forces bomb targets without concern for civilians or children or property of any value. The saudis are locked in a regional conflict that has exposed them to international criticism. On top of the murder of the journalist(a Saudi himself), the world wonders what is happening in Riyadh. Has the Family of the House of Saud began its decline into chaos? Has the heir apparent signaled his inept methods? Have his advisors gone off the rails? All of these possibilities have surfaced and created many new concerns by those countries that depend on oil for their economies. Many have begun to look for alternatives and Iranian oil is not one of them as new sanctions on Iran has crippled that country's ability to market its oil.
So, the world watches and waits.
So, the world watches and waits.
Midterm Elections: California and El Dorado County
Tomorrow we have elections across the country. Involved are positions from governorships to Senate seats to House seats. Pundits are making big of this election because it appears that the voter turnout could be a record for the midterm. Pres. Thrump is on the stump, providing fodder for all the media. Pollsters are lying low, not wishing to poison the well. They usually have a bucket of predictions but in this toxic environment, they are keeping their information under wraps.
Whether one lives on either coast or in the heartland, the election has the possibility of creating a new situation in Congress: a split Congress with one or the other chamber yielding control to the other party(Dems), or both chambers giving up Republican control, or the Republicans maintaining control for another two years. Many candidates are newcomers, many more are women, getting out of the role of mere voter to the role of candidate. It could mark another resurgence of woomen in Congress.
Many local issues are also being decided; many taxes will be added or subtracted, raised or lowered, seldom eliminated. Many voters are weary of fake news, false positioning by various extremist groups, but, undaunted, they will vote their conscious. Hopefully, a large turnout will provide a good result. The more voters, the better the result.
Polls open locally at 7am for some, 8am for most. Get your ballots in; a mail in ballot can be dropped off at your polling station.
Please vote. Think about how you want to live where you live.
Whether one lives on either coast or in the heartland, the election has the possibility of creating a new situation in Congress: a split Congress with one or the other chamber yielding control to the other party(Dems), or both chambers giving up Republican control, or the Republicans maintaining control for another two years. Many candidates are newcomers, many more are women, getting out of the role of mere voter to the role of candidate. It could mark another resurgence of woomen in Congress.
Many local issues are also being decided; many taxes will be added or subtracted, raised or lowered, seldom eliminated. Many voters are weary of fake news, false positioning by various extremist groups, but, undaunted, they will vote their conscious. Hopefully, a large turnout will provide a good result. The more voters, the better the result.
Polls open locally at 7am for some, 8am for most. Get your ballots in; a mail in ballot can be dropped off at your polling station.
Please vote. Think about how you want to live where you live.
Book Review: The Billion Dollar Spy
The old conflict known as "The Cold War", an ideological struggle between the world's super powers, provided endless stories to fuel innumerable novels to feed insatiable demand. The "Cold War" began shortly after WW II when Stalin's policies on Eastern Europe directly opposed those of the US and her allies, collectively found among the nations that formed NATO. While the US and its intelligence gathering arm(s) began their efforts well after the Soviet Union, they learned quickly once it was known what Stalin was up to around the world.
While many of the novels had a basis in facts, the more interesting writers incorporated first hand experience with lively imagination, both in plot and character. It's widely considered that "truth is stranger than fiction", and in the case of the "Billion Dollar Spy", it holds true. In the decade before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russyan secret service, aka the K.G.B., waged a relentless campaign against the West and NATO, and also against her own citizens. While the C.I.A. performed intel gathering abroad, domestic affairs are handled by the FBI, the KGB SPIES ON EVERYBODY.
So, in the late 70's, an employee of the American Embassy in MOscova was contacted by a Russyan citizen, leaving a note saying he possessed information of a technical nature that would be of interest to the United States. Thus began the story of spy craft in the late 20th century. The Russyan, Mr. Kohlhachov, was an engineer working in the research area of airborne radar systems. This area was of interest to all nations developing advanced systems and advanced defenses against the same systems. The author made extensive use of interviews, archival research, recently declassified documents, and on the ground study of the environment. The case went forward for several years despite a slow start. As expected, the C.I.A. was very cautious, knowing the K.G.B. is adept at planting false stories and false informants. After extensive vetting, an agreement was made with the engineer, and his information began to flow directly to the US technical systems developers. He is called the 'Billion Dollar' spy because he alone saved the US billions of dollars in research and development costs at a time when budget constraints on the Pentagon were severe. As the case progressed, engineers were able to uncover the goals of Russyan airborne radar systems at the current state of conditions. Thus, the US Dept of Defense was able to change direction of research and take advantage of this top secret material.
Operating in the Moscova environment means that all agents, on both sides play the game: everybody is watched all the time, and rarely can one escape the constant observers. However, over time, professionals learn the weaknesses of the other side, and take advantage of them. They operate along the "seams", those areas least observed. Thus, informants and their information gets passed to the other side.
At the same time, a disgruntled new employee of the C.I.A. decided to turn against the US for revenge. Having read some of the secret information from the Moscova Embassy, he was able to provide enough information to the K.G.B. that compromised the leak. Mr. Kohlkachov was caught and executed in Russya. The ex-agent was spirited to Russya and died there years later.
It's a gripping story, and the author keeps the narrative moving, describing dead drops, disguises, letters, phone calls, plans that go awry, and the cash payoffs. He also shines some light on the methods of spy craft before the age of cell phones, cyber security, and hacking attacks that we are all aware of today. It was a simpler time in the late 80's and 90's. The technology has changed but the people involved are the same old players, excepting now the head of the KGB heads the largest country in the world.
I highly recommend this story for all those interested in international relations, especially as Russya becomes more assertive in its attempt to shake its murderous past.
5 Stars *****
avail. in paperback on Amazon
While many of the novels had a basis in facts, the more interesting writers incorporated first hand experience with lively imagination, both in plot and character. It's widely considered that "truth is stranger than fiction", and in the case of the "Billion Dollar Spy", it holds true. In the decade before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russyan secret service, aka the K.G.B., waged a relentless campaign against the West and NATO, and also against her own citizens. While the C.I.A. performed intel gathering abroad, domestic affairs are handled by the FBI, the KGB SPIES ON EVERYBODY.
So, in the late 70's, an employee of the American Embassy in MOscova was contacted by a Russyan citizen, leaving a note saying he possessed information of a technical nature that would be of interest to the United States. Thus began the story of spy craft in the late 20th century. The Russyan, Mr. Kohlhachov, was an engineer working in the research area of airborne radar systems. This area was of interest to all nations developing advanced systems and advanced defenses against the same systems. The author made extensive use of interviews, archival research, recently declassified documents, and on the ground study of the environment. The case went forward for several years despite a slow start. As expected, the C.I.A. was very cautious, knowing the K.G.B. is adept at planting false stories and false informants. After extensive vetting, an agreement was made with the engineer, and his information began to flow directly to the US technical systems developers. He is called the 'Billion Dollar' spy because he alone saved the US billions of dollars in research and development costs at a time when budget constraints on the Pentagon were severe. As the case progressed, engineers were able to uncover the goals of Russyan airborne radar systems at the current state of conditions. Thus, the US Dept of Defense was able to change direction of research and take advantage of this top secret material.
Operating in the Moscova environment means that all agents, on both sides play the game: everybody is watched all the time, and rarely can one escape the constant observers. However, over time, professionals learn the weaknesses of the other side, and take advantage of them. They operate along the "seams", those areas least observed. Thus, informants and their information gets passed to the other side.
At the same time, a disgruntled new employee of the C.I.A. decided to turn against the US for revenge. Having read some of the secret information from the Moscova Embassy, he was able to provide enough information to the K.G.B. that compromised the leak. Mr. Kohlkachov was caught and executed in Russya. The ex-agent was spirited to Russya and died there years later.
It's a gripping story, and the author keeps the narrative moving, describing dead drops, disguises, letters, phone calls, plans that go awry, and the cash payoffs. He also shines some light on the methods of spy craft before the age of cell phones, cyber security, and hacking attacks that we are all aware of today. It was a simpler time in the late 80's and 90's. The technology has changed but the people involved are the same old players, excepting now the head of the KGB heads the largest country in the world.
I highly recommend this story for all those interested in international relations, especially as Russya becomes more assertive in its attempt to shake its murderous past.
5 Stars *****
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| Master Spy and friend |
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| US Capitol Bldg |
Thursday, November 1, 2018
US Indicts Chinese Corporate Spies
So, the PLA sends a scientist to a US university to study with US scientists who are engaged in new research areas that just happen to coincide with those under development in China. However, the Chinese scientist does not reveal his connection to the PLA, aka the Peoples Liberation Army. The PLA is in fact the organization charged with intelligence gathering worldwide. The mission of the secretive arm of the PLA is to steal data related to those areas targeted by China in her quest to overcome the leadership role of the USA in technology. In addition to the indictments, arrests were made.
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