Cogito Ergo Non Serviam
Latest Commentary:
Senate Rebukes Trump on Yemen, Khashoggi -- The Republican-dominated US Senate has been the lap dog of the Trump administration since January 20, 2017. Yesterday, it voted twice against the administration, in both cases with Saudi Arabia as the subject. First, the Senate opted to cut off US aid for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen against Iranian-backed rebels. The vote was 56-41 invoking the War Powers Act of 1973. Second, the Senate voted unanimously to condemn the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The House will not take these measures up, but a new House is to be sworn in on January 3. A reassessment of the Saudi-US relationship is in order. [December 14]
Butina Pleads Guilty, Cohen Sentenced, AMI Gets Deal -- Maria Butina is a Russian national who has just pled guilty to conspiracy against the United States. Her crime was part of the Russian government's effort to influence the 2016 presidential election. Yesterday, Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to 3 years in jail for various crimes including helping Mr. Trump evade campaign finance laws. Also yesterday, American Media (publisher of the National Enquirer among other titles) agreed to a non-prosecution agreement related to its participation in a similar cover-up. All have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. The noose is tightening around the neck of President Trump. [December 13]
May Faces Leadership Challenge -- As if the Brexit mess were not bad enough, the Conservative Party back-benchers have decided to start a leadership fight. The Tories are having their annual Christmas party later today, followed by a secret ballot on the continued leadership of Theresa May. If she loses, she will be expected to resign as Prime Minister. If she wins, there can be no leadership challenge again for a year, but she will still face the impossible task of getting her Brexit deal with the EU passed in the House of Commons. [December 12]
May Postpones Brexit Vote in Commons -- The day before the House of Commons was to vote on the agreement Prime Minister Theresa May made with the EU on the terms of Britain's departure from the EU, the PM has decided to postpone the vote, perhaps until January. That is a clear sign that she does not have sufficient support to get the legislation approving it passed, and that puts at risk everything she has worked to achieve. Many MPs are upset about a great many things, and so, there is no quick fix. Time is running out, and Britain looks increasingly like it will crash out of the EU, or better, not leave at all. [December 10]
Huawei CFO Detained in Canada for Busting US Sanctions on Iran -- The CFO of Chinese smartphone maker Huawei, who is also the daughter of the founder and CEO and who may be the top dog one day, was arrested in Canada on December 1 at the request of the United States. The Americans say the detention is based on Huawei's alleged violations of America's sanctions on Iran. This is not the company's only problem as it tries to grow its influence around the world. Huawei's future is about more than trade. Even the ChiComs say so. [December 6]
© Copyright 2018 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.
Volume XVI, Number 216
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