| Kensington Review |
9 December 2024 |
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Cogito Ergo Non Serviam |
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Latest Commentary: Syrians Oust Assad -- Bashir al-Assad was the dictator of Syria up until this weekend. He is now a political asylum seeker in Moscow. The end of the Assad regime marks a huge shift in the power balance of the region. It also marks a significant defeat for his sponsors Russia and Iran. What it does not automatically mean is that Syria is free. Every revolution eats its children, and it leaves behind the slime of a new bureaucracy. Time will tell, but given who the alleged liberators are, one does not hold out much hope. Be that as it may, the end of the atrocious family of tyrants is a cause for celebration. It is the necessary but not sufficient condition for the true liberation of Syria. [9 December] French Government Falls -- Special Prosecutor Jack Smith is a fine lawyer and an effective prosecutor. He has a string of high profile convictions. However, he discovered, as did the rest of the world, that America has ceased to be a nation of laws (to the extent it ever was one). Now, politics Trump justice and legalities. The right people have always had an easier time of it, but now, they have a free pass. Between the stacked courts and the pardon power Mr. Trump will wield, there is little reason for them to fear anything remotely resembling an indictment. As proof, one cites Mr. Smith's decision yesterday to drop the charges against the president-elect over election interference and the mishandling of classified documents. [5 December] South Korea Under Martial Law, Briefly -- The President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea in the vernacular), Yoon Suk Yeol, decided to put the country under martial law yesterday. It was the first time democracy had been suspended since 1979. The president said he was taking away democracy and civil liberties to combat pro-North Korean influences and anti-state actors. He declared the National Assembly, which is controlled by the opposition, to be a "den of thieves." All would have been well had the people simply accepted their fates. Instead, they took to the streets, the National Assembly voted against the declaration (190-0) and after six hours, the president backed down. He is now facing calls for his resignation and the threat of impeachment. [4 December] Biden Pardons Son -- Despite saying for ages that he would never pardon his son, Hunter, President Joe Biden has issued a blanket pardon to his boy covering the last 10 years. The howling from the right has been typical of the faux rage they have managed to distill in their media bubble. One would think the Republic was going to collapse from the intense corruption of the Biden crime family. In truth, President Biden compromised on his principles to protect his son from the onslaught that the MAGA team had in store for him. Much of the howling is from those whose prey has escaped. [3 December] Trump Threatens Tariffs on Mexican, Canadian Goods -- Donald Trump likes tariffs. He believes that they can force other countries to bend to his will by harming their economies. He believes he can protect America with tariffs. Or put it differently, he believes a tax is the best form of defense. He showcased his plans with a threat to slap a 25% tariff on all goods coming into the US from Mexico and Canada. To avoid that, he has demanded they stop migrants from crossing into the US and to stop the spread of fentanyl that arrives daily in the US. The Mexican government has said that it wants to stop the flow of both but tariffs will not help. Canadian PM Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago to speak with President-Elect Trump about the matter. The trouble is that the US has less power in this situation than Mr. Trump thinks. [2 December] © Copyright 2024 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.
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21 Years Online Volume XXII, Number 175
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