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Busy weekend weekend, trying to catch up.

Wuhan Virus -
The total numbers under quarenteen is now over 400 MILLION. This gives credence to the opinion of many that China is not accurately reporting the numbers - or is so overwhelmed they can’t keep up with the numbers. Independent analysis by medical folks indicate that of those who have a serious infection requiring hospitalization, the mortality rate is near 20% (overall the mortality rate is hanging at 2%). Since these numbers are based on China sources, I think they could be high because the level of care just isn’t there to begin with. I don’t trust all the reports of mass arrests, mass burials, mass cremations or the like at this stage, too extreme and sourcing quality questionable. I do believe the real numbers are substantially higher, given that 400 million are in lock down with over 40,000 reported cases (and over 900 reported deaths).

Of note is that the infections are starting to increase outside of China now. Need to watch that closely. WHO issuing warnings that a full blown pandemic is increasingly possible.

Secondary impacts - economic. Voices are raising the concern that with the lockdowns, factories are shutting down for an unspecified period of time. Many companies still have much of their supply chain rooted in China - covering a broad spectrum of items. This is causing market concerns not just in the US but globally as well. If this isn’t enough to encourage companies to return manufacturing to America, nothing can.

Israel -
Standard responses to Gaza based rocket/mortar/sniper/IED balloon attacks. Israel increasingly warning that they will use decapitation attacks to take out senior leadership should these attacks continue.

Lebanon -
More protests against the Hezbollah backed government recently installed in Lebanon. The see the country being made a proxy for Iran and forming a base for Hezbollah to try to exert control over the region as well as a base to attack Israel from. Hezbollah militas have been very heavy handed in attacking protestors since they started in October. As in Iraq, protestors see Iran backing corrupt govt entities.

Iran -
Iran failed to insert a satellite into orbit this weekend, the fourth failure in as many attempts. The rocket program is a covert attempt to develop platforms to eventually be able to launch a nuclear warhead. Analysts suggest that Iran has enough enriched Uranium to make a final push to the weapons grade level within a year, though it us uncertain if they have a weapon (or plans for one) and is small enough to fit on one of their rockets. Much concern that they may have gotten plans from N. Korea’s weapon testing.

Syria/Turkey -
Increased tensions and artillery exchanges between Turkish and Syrian forces around the town of Idlib. Turkey warning Syria it faces potential counterattacks if they do not pull back in accordance with and earlier agreement. Turkey has been moving substantial armor and manpower to the region over the weekend and has become a serious potential flash point.

CW2-
Democrat rhetoric appears to be setting off some loose cannons. In DC, a guy was arrested with a knife claiming he was there to kill the President. He was arrested in placed under mental observation. In Jacksonville FL, an man intentially drove his van into a Republican tent were they were registering voters. Though under arrest, I’m still looking to see who he is affiliated with - as are other freepers.
Combined with the violent dreams and statements by Bernie campaign staffers, the potential is there for serious violence - just need a triggering event.

Wuhan Virus -
Reports surfacing that the test kits for the virus China has mass produced have a very high failure rate (as much as 70%). Not good as it would permit infected individuals to be released to the general public to transmit the disease if true. Adding to this, it is being reported that China has been excluding asymptomatic cases (infections with not symptions) from its official count in contradiction to WHO guidelines.

Reported numbers for 10 Feb - 42,729 confirmed, 1013 fatalities (2.4%)

Meanwhile, WHO is out with concerns about the probability of infections appearing that are no longer associated with travel to china. From the start WHO has been essentially worthless and China has only recently let a small team of WHO researchers into the country to examine things first hand.

N Korea -
Mentioned yesterday under the Wuhan virus, but today stands alone for the simple reason of the secondary impacts the asian epidemic has had. Desperate to prevent the virus spread, NK has completely closed its border with china now for over three weeks. That means imports of food and fuel are not arriving. The country has no reserves to draw upon to begin with and what there is is reserved for the military, and this wont last much longer. Sanctions PLUS Wuhan virus has been a double wammy to the NK people.

Israel -
Arab states are calling on Abbas to ‘lower the volume’ on his opposition to the Trump peace plan, concerned that it would create greater instability in the region. OTOH, Abbas is taking heat from other Palestinians for failing to take ‘real measures’ to oppose the plan.
Terrorists in Gaza claim they will stop IED balloon attacks, but so far there are no indicators of it ceasing. In Gaza, Egyptian diplomats have reportedly warned Hamas to stop supporting Iranian interests in favor of the proposed peace plan.

Syrian forces have launched a significant offensive against Aleppo, capturing key terrain and roads.

CW2-
Anyone heard of what the political stance of the guy who drove into the Republican tent a couple of days ago? I’m getting silence. My guess is a democrat leftist not affiliated with Bernie - Why? - because if a bernie supporter, the anti-bernie democrat elements would have put it out as part of their effort to stymie his campaign.

More threats against college republican groups. Very few incidents of violence against attendees at recent Trump rallies. Could be because increased citizen readiness to protect attendees during the critical time following the end of the event. A contributing factor may be the antifa types just don’t like to leave their warm basements at momma’s house. Expect things to heat up as the weather improves.

According to Breitbart - VA state police refuse to rule out door-to-door enforcement of a suppressor ban. By projection, that leaves open door-to-door acts based on the other laws being passed. July is when these laws come into force - we will see what the sanctuaries do when state police start showing up in their jurisdictions.