Pressure
PushingDownOnHeVille
Vladimir Putin, responding to his own bought-paid-for-media's questions about how Russia will respond to new American sanctions against its oiligarchy (sic):
...“No self-respecting country ever does anything under pressure.” ...
5 comments:
Mic Drop...
“Moscow has long found ways to evade western sanction through opaque trading schemes as well as its ‘shadow fleet’ network. The network, which relies on ageing vessels sailing under obscure flags and managed through shell companies in the Middle East and Asia, has enabled Russia to sustain oil exports to key customers in India and China despite the G7 price cap and EU embargo.”
If Trump really wanted to send a message to the Russians, his announced sanctions would come with the warning that any shadow fleet vessels would be seized.
That’s if Hegseth isn’t too busy killing fishermen in International waters without any demonstrable justification. Like self-respecting nations are wont to do.
Lew--
Next up, apparently...
Land strikes.
.
“As reported by the 2025 INCSR, "The United States determined that Mexico was again the most significant source of illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogues significantly affecting the United States in 2024," and "companies in the PRC remain the largest source of precursor chemicals and equipment used to manufacture illicit fentanyl." Although some fentanyl precursors are subject to international controls, as mentioned, others may be produced and exported legally from certain countries, including China. Mexican customs officials reportedly have struggled to detect the illicit diversion of these chemicals.”
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF10400
So Mexico and China are mainly responsible for fentanyl production and smuggling into the United States, and 90% of the importation comes in at the southern land borders.
Meanwhile, “US citizens still made up 78 percent of offenders (9,362 out of 12,004 convictions nationwide). In other words, Americans dominate all drug trafficking convictions, not just fentanyl.”
https://www.cato.org/blog/us-citizens-were-80-all-convicted-drug-traffickers-2024#:~:text=US%20Citizens%20Dominate%20Drug%20Trafficking,trafficking%20convictions%2C%20not%20just%20fentanyl.
But sure, let’s declare a fentanyl emergency and deliberately kill people in small boats far from the land borders who may or may not be drug runners without proof or due process (the death penalty doesn’t apply to trafficking in any case). And since drones aren’t causing enough casualties, let’s bring in the world’s largest aircraft carrier and a supporting strike force.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-10th-deadly-boat-strike-6-dead-9.6952029
This has probably become serious enough to warrant a strongly worded memo from Chuck Schumer.
One really has to wonder what the orange one is thinking when he brings in the world's largest aircraft carrier because less than a dozen speed boats were running around the ocean. Just the fuel bill for that little jaunt could provide enough food for a number of food banks and health care. Then of course he is a bully. Kills people he doesn't know for crimes there is no proof for. On the other hand he is too scared of Putin to send tomahawk misslies to Ukraine. It could all be diversions or he is just trying to do a poor imitation of a military leader. Perhaps that is why he fired some of the best military leaders of the country.
Trump might want to think twice before starting anything with Venezuala. Other countries in S.A. could well come to assist Venezula and if the narco gangs decide to join in the U.S.A. could be in for a world of pain.
If Trump is so upset about the amount of drugs coming into the U.S.A. he might just want to increase Customs officers. Some decades ago, the American government wanted to examine more containers, i.e. x ray a majority of them. Big corporations such as Wal Mart were very upset because it would slow down their supply chains and cost them money. The government shelved that idea. the Americans have no one to blame but themselves for all the drugs coming into their country. Instead of "invading" American cities because trump needs to feel he is in control of something he could send those military types to ports and examine all containers coming into their country.
The American government could also start by providing medical care for its citizens so if they did become addicted there was some place to go for help.
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