CW2 / Virginia-
Probably one of the most closely watched events in decades. Here’s what the action currently is
Thousands have willingly entered the cage. Tens of thousands more - many well armed - surround it. No reported incidents during the build up. Twitter posting photos of county sheriffs supporting the marchers.
Antifa presence appears to be minimal at the moment. One major Antifa group backtracked an earlier statement that they would march to protect their gun rights too saying they would not march with nazis. Lots of rumors of a hit list of visible conservative / right individuals and rally speakers.
My primary concern for the outbreak of violence is AFTER the rally. Antifa has historically launched violent attacks as people return to their transportation and leave. That movement gives them an opportunity to isolate smaller groups that they can overwhelm by numbers. I urge freezers to be cautious on reports as there is still a lot of propaganda and misinformation and rumors out there.
China / SARS
China announcing virus spread to numerous cities. They report cases in the low hundreds. Medical community outside China believes they are under reporting and real numbers in the thousands. China also reported human to human transmission of the virus. Virus has now been encountered in S Korea.
Taiwan News ^ | 20JAN2020 | Keoni Everington,
Posted on 1/20/2020, 2:56:32 PM by AdmSmith
A photo surfaced Sunday (Jan. 19) on Weibo showing People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers sitting next to a map of Taiwan that appears to indicate a southerly route for China's invasion of Taiwan, first going through Kinmen and Penghu, before landing troops in southern Taiwan.
After President Tsai Ing-wen enjoyed a landslide victory in Taiwan's elections on Jan. 11, Communist China has been doubling down on its rhetoric about the tattered "one country, two systems" framework and adhering to the "1992 Consensus" — expressing its opposition to "Taiwan independence" despite the fact that Taiwan has never been a part of Communist China.
In a joint statement issued with Myanmar on Saturday (Jan. 18), China reaffirmed the "one-China" principle and categorized "Taiwan as an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China's territory."
In a statement on Sunday (Jan. 19), Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Joanne Ou responded by saying: "The ministry condemns such false statements that diminish the sovereignty of the Republic of China."
Ou added: "Taiwan is not part of China, and only the Taiwanese government elected by its people can represent Taiwan in the international arena."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3809633/posts
(Several years ago, I visited Taiwan and met a lot of lovely people who appreciate the USA.)
CW2 / Virginia
Observations and wrap up.
Despite the leftist media hype that this was some sort of a white nationalist protest like Charlottesville, the march ended with no arrests or incidents of violence. Media claims attendance of 22k, but apparently failed to add in the crowds way up the streets leading in.
What is remarkable is the absence of an organized Antifa response. I suspect this could be due to the following factors
1. Cold weather. Only one potential ‘plant’ widely reported from social media.
2. Insufficient armed Antifa available.
3. Numerical advantage of the pro 2d crowd. Antifa thrives on where they can gain a numerical superiority over targets and prefers those targets to be unarmed / unable to resist.
The left lost this engagement. No violent act to try to use to push their agenda and tens of thousands of 2d supporters who refused to back down, even in the face of potential kinetic violence.
Iraq -
Antigovernment protests have ramped way up overnight in Baghdad. Plus 3 rockets have so far been fired into the green zone No injuries reported.
SARS -
Increased global concern about the spread of this virus. China being forced to reveal more information.