I.C.E. Gives New Figures on Illegals Arrested at US Southern Border

      In an effort to bolster the White House request for funds to construct another 215 miles of border wall/fence/moat along the Mexican border with Texas, Homeland Security announced that over 33,000 arrests were made last month of illegals crossing said border.   Most all were families coming from Central America.   This is the largest number of arrests in 10 years.  Some may argue this is not an emergency or a cause of such a declaration by the sitting president, but it certainly seems that something has changed in that particular zone of the border.
      It is common knowledge that information regarding current goals and abilities of border police filter down south, and that such information affects decision making by those seeking to come to the US.   Most of those apprehended were members of family groups.  They do not attempt to evade the border police, but, unlike their many predecessors, seek out border personnel to turn themselves in, and to seek asylum here under any pretext they think will work.   Since holding units were not designed for families, but rather single, male workers seeking jobs, most of these families are left in a limbo-like state without any coherent idea of their status or their future.  Most (+90% will not be granted asylum and will be forcibly returned to their homelands wherever that may be.
     Perhaps Congress will address this most recent uptick in arrests.  Perhaps not.

Chinese Detainee Sues U.S. from Canada

     Ms. Meng Wahzhou, CFO of tech giant Huawei, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against the U.S. government.  Her lawsuit contends that issuing an arrest warrant for here in Canada is against international law.  The suit contends that she has done nothing that can she can be responsible for as the CFO of a large Chinese corporation that does business world wide.
     Since she is under house arrest in Canada, her options are stictly limited while Canadian courts determine their response to the DOJ in  the U.S. that she be extradited to the USA to answer charges that she violated international law by sidestepping sanctions against Iran placed intoo effect bythe government of the US.   Ms. Menghas already taken this same approach to deal with the arrest in British Columbia where the courts have ruled that there is sufficient evidence to hold an extradition hearing for the U.S, request.  She is able to stay in one of her two homes in Vancouver, B.C.

Chinese Hackers Identified by Accenture

      My, my, my.  As trade talks between the US and China continue, a new revelation has been made public that throws a little dirt in the face of Chinese trade negotiators.  It seems that several Chinese organizations have penetrated the data systems of more than a few US institutions that conduct research on undersea systems that pertain to stealth operations by various US military units.  Not only have these hackers penetrated university networks, but also private research institutes such as Woods Hole in Massachusetts.
       The iDefense company has listed several known Chinese hacking groups that have been consistently involved in these state -sponsored operations.  These professional hackers conduct their efforts on behalf of military intelligence groups within the PLA-the Peoples Liberation Army.  Their goals include the research efforts of military contractors in the US so that the PLA can develop counter measures and to fund specific programs to thwart those same objectives.   Hmmmmmmmm.  Could this in anyway be connected to the national Chinese policy of taking over the world in 5 years?  Hmmmmmmm.   Maybe we should look at statements of one of the Chinese nation's leaders:
Premier Li Keqiang made a 100-minute speech to China's legislature but did not mention Pres. Trump's criticism of the state-sponsored program to make China a global tech leader at the expense of US industry.   This policy has been his go-to program during the past 3 years of similar speeches.  He listed emerging industries- next-generation info tech; high-end equipment; biomedicines; and new-energy automobiles(electrics and hybrids) all to be 'Made in China 2025 and part of the "Buy China" goal.
       Under pressure from Washington, China will replace the "Made in China 2025" program with another that will foster more access by foreign companies to the Chinese market.  However, there is little evidence of this even beginning in 2019.   Subsidies by the Chinese government continue to state-owned companies in these areas of industry.
      Hackers continue to focus on American research efforts in sensitive military research facilities.
Given that universities are willing to share information among various related research facilities, Chinese hackers exploit these data sharing efforts.  One hacker is Temp.Periscope and has been a subject of concern for the US Navy.   Two schools are the Univ. of Hawaii and Penn State University.  Both declined to comment on the findings.  Not a good sign.  Temp.Periscope has been tagged APT 40 or Advanced Persistent Threat 40 as a known hacking enterprise.  Howard Marshall, who leads iDefense cybersecurity efforts, says that the Chinese have expanded their military hacking efforts.  FireEye researchers have confirmed iDefense findings.   They both say these government subsidized operations continue despite the discovery of the techniques and methods used.
       Well, now, how will these revelations affect trade discussions?

Roger Stone: Part III

      Well, the child-like performance of the former political advisor has reached a new low.  This sad spectacle of an adult behaving like a child is enough for one to elevate child behavior, which in most cases is superior to Mr. Stone's behavior.  The poor man cannot keep his mouth shut.  Given that the judge overseeing his case warned him repeatedly to avoid talking about his trial/case, it is remarkable that he chose to laugh at her judgement: he went "gram".  His defense: He makes his living talking and communicating, as if he is beyond the law.  
     Now we can see how he has led his pathetic life: defying convention; defying society's rules; working the seams of acceptable behaviors; and generally living and working like an idiot(no offense to those afflicted persons).   Now it appears he has gone too far.  He will most likely end up in jail where he can live with real restrictions: sharp limits on visitors; sharper limits on communications to the outside world; and horror of horrors-he'll be treated like a common criminal.
     So, after a lifelong charade of acting like he knew what he was doing when in fact he was making it all up along the way, he'll start to learn that, yes, there are rules that the rest of the world must follow, and we do follow those rules in civil society.   Maybe the experience will teach him something.  fat chance.  Idiots such as Roger Stone never learn.

Book Review: "Battle Cry of the Republic: The Civil War Era", James McPherson, 1988

Cover: Union Charge into Confederates

        Many titles (50,000+)dealing with the American Civil War grace the shelves of library after library, public and private.  They occupy space because the works answer many questions about an era that has relevance to today's problems the war was intended to solve.   Historian McPherson presents an overview that includes many of the most well known battles, such as Gettysburg and Vicksburg.  He adds much of the political landscape that is often not of much interest to other historians and readers with questions of American history during that most turbulent era.  He brings Lincoln in to sharp focus as he struggles with sectional differences that cause endless difficulties  in Congress as rebels down South who seceded create existential troubles for the president.
       The author gathers facts concerning the mid-century nation as sectionalism began to boil over not just in Congress, but also in the state legislatures themselves.  Soon, decisions had to be made at the family level: do sons and daughters follow the parents' lead?  Do brothers agree or separate into opponents?  Can the new president keep his unity goal as the goal of all or most all of his party and the Congress?  Widespread support would often waver in the face of setbacks on the battlefield.  Peace Democrats or copperheads, strongly opposed Mr. Lincoln and manuvered to wrest control of Congress in the near term elections.
      Mr. Lincoln's army was not much of one at the onset.  Few foot soldiers had any experience.  Those officers with any experience gained most of that in Mexico 12-13 years before hostilities erupted at home.  Many of those had returned to civilian life(Grant, Sherman for two).  State militias were thought to be those army units that would prosecute the war for the nation with help from the standing army which didn't hold great numbers in 1861.   Gen. George McClelland was given command of the Army of the Potomac and assigned the mission of subduing the rebellion.  The first meeting at Manassas/Bull Run did not go well as the rebel forces drove the Union troops into headlong retreat.  The casual observers on a picnic from Washington, D.C. scrambled alongside those troops to the security of defenses near the capitol.
     Author McPherson then takes the reader on a narrative course through this brief but significant 4 years of American history.   He covers important battles with details leading up to and following the event(s).  He indicates the fallout politically for both leaders: Mr. Davis in Richmond, VA., and Mr. Lincoln in Washington, D.C.  Each had their hands full with nay sayers and supporters.   While not claiming military expertise, Mr. Lincoln knew his goals and knew they could only be achieved by defeating the rebellion in the field.   Gen. McClelland, while respected by his troops and acclaimed for his intellect and training, he was hesitant to attack.  His movement or lack there of moved Mr. Lincoln to replace him, despite his popularity and his membership in the Democratic party.  He needed a proven leader and he found him out west, in the Mississippi River valley.  Gen. U.S. Grant was called east to take over the army and to get it moving to victory.  He brought William T. Sherman with him.   Things changed for the better.   It was not a cake walk, but a series of campaigns that had its share of setbacks in places like Chickamauga,  Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, and Cold Harbor.
        Among topics included beyond active hostilities were the early attempts to provide managed care for battlefield casualties who had been an after thought by leaders of both armies.  Volunteers began to organize efforts to provide first aid soon after the end of a battle.   Efforts were primitive by any account, but even these efforts saved countless lives.  The exploits of cavalry troops merited detailed accounts of their many contributions whether Gen. Phil Sheridan for Grant or Gen. James Longstreet for Robt. E. Lee.   These mounted troops covered great distances and often provided just enough intelligence to the leaders to sway the outcomes of battles.
      Perhaps the author's greatest achievement was to convey in his narrative the uncertainty of the outcome, even as late as 1864.  Yes, the Southern rebel was outnumbered and underfed unlike his Northern opponents; but he fought with determination and obstinantcie when well led which was much of the time.   Union troops, on the other hand, were generally well supplied and ably led, but often lacked the zeal of their opponent.  This can sometimes be ascribed to various recruitment programs that provided a mixed bag of soldiers, many on short term enlistments and recruited from a state with divided populations on the unity question.
     This book deserves to be on the shelf of any educated American.  It should be used as a reference on the era.

Meng in Canada: Hearing Approved

      Ms. Meng Wenzhou, CFO of Huawei, is still cooling her heels in Vancouver, B.C.  After 3 months under arrest, she will continue waiting for a court decision regarding extradition to the U.S.  The company has continued its publicity campaign around the world to counter the perception that the company is nothing more than an aggressive intelligence gathering arm of the PLA, or Peoples Liberation Army.   Ms. Meng's Father, founder of Huawei, was a former officer of the PLA working in intelligence areas.   Many countries around the world have moved to block the Huawei company as it tries to build 5G networks on foreign landscapes in efforts to sell products that are believed to contain components that gather data from users that is then stored and sent back to China.  The U.S. has been aggressive in its moves to contain these activities.
     Ms. Meng was arrested in Vancouver as she prepared to board a plane to return to China.  The request for extradition came from the US Dept. of Justice.  Initially, she was incarcerated in jail, but has since been released with monitors and her passport has been taken.  She owns two properties in Vancouver and has been living in one of them.
     Media outlets in the US, to include the Wall Street Journal and the NY TImes, have printed ads featuring remarks by Huawei to deflect criticisms of the country.  This is the country that has rounded up hundreds of thousands of Uighurs and placed them in compounds for "re-education".  This tactic by Communist governments is well known.  It is used extensively against opposition groups that have fallen out of favor or who oppose policies of the central government.  In this case, they oppose the power grab tactics of the leader for life: Xi Jing Ping, head of all things Communist in China.
      The Judge in the case has issued a decision that said there is sufficient evidence to hold the extradition hearing requested by the US.  This should happen sooner rather than later. 

Canada: Our Northern Neighbor: Mr. Trudeau Has a problem

       Elections are 7 months away in Canada but that does not mean discussion of outcomes is not a hot topic.  Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister, will stand for reelection.  At this moment, that effort is the subject of great debate.  The issue is centered on the Minister of Justice in Canada, Ms. Wilson-Weybould.  She had begun an investigation into the actions of a large oil services company, SNC- Lavalin of Montreal.  The company was involved with a contract with former dictator of Libya, Moammar Khadafy, now deceased.  Apparently, money was paid to the regime to award business to the company, an illegal act.
      An investigation was launched by the Ministry of Justice.  Mr. Trudeau and company, thought this investigation might spook the SNC-Lavalin office in Montreal and cause a closure of the office and with it, the thousands of jobs would go bye-bye.  Meetings were held; the investigation was discussed with the Minister of Justice-10 meetings or more.  She did not flinch under the gaze of the Young Prime Minister.   Investigation continued to go forward; and the Justice Minister was demoted and reassigned.  And now, the fallout.
     The reputation of Mr. Trudeau is now being questioned by the opposition Conservative Party.  It is asking him to Resign.  How harsh is that?  The young man has stumbled into-----POLITICS.   Hmmmm.  How does this happen?  Hmmmmmm.  Maybe we could have predicted this.   Maybe Canada is different.  Maybe Liberals are different.  And maybe not.
      This three act play has a ways to go before the final curtain.  With an election 7 months away, there's lots of time for more drama up North.  Watch it.