On the road this week
Wuhan virus -
Infections increase across the US. Panic buying in some communities. Amazon deleted “millions” of items for not meeting their truth in advertising policy. Last look they haven’t deleted the $44 bottles of $3 hand sanitizers
Israel -
Netanyahu won out right last night ending a years worth of uncertainty. Hamas et al remained generally quiet except for one rocket that misfired and landed in Gaza.
Iran -
27 members of parliament infected with Wuhan virus.
CW2 -
Biden received the endorsement of several former candidates for president. In Texas he announced he’d place Beto in charge of gun policy. In doing so he torpedoed attempts to claim a more moderate position.
Wuhan Virus -
See FR threads on the virus for other issues. Below are the news items that grab my attention.
More potential economic chaos as US banks have begun testing crisis plans if a broader outbreak prevents staff from going to work. This includes teleworking and reduced staffing. Such plans could impact business interaction with banks, slowing the ability to respond. The results will likely be more intense gyrations of the stock market.
The most dramatic response so far is from Kings County, WA that is urging approximately 2.2 million residents to stay at home and those over 60 to stay indoors. This could be a prequil to mandatory lockdowns.
Many are looking to a national emergency declaration and mobilization of DHS assets and other resources to assist states. This could be a good or bad thing depending on the attitude of the state involved. Monitoring.
Turkey/Syria/Russia-
The Turkish offensive in Idlib continues with over the last four days, two Turkish brigades crossing into Syria accompanied by artillery, armed UAVs and F-16s. The Turks claim to have destroyed over a hundred Syrian armored vehicles, most of them tanks, along with two Su-24 fighter-bombers, eight helicopters and numerous unarmored vehicles. In spite of this, Russia hasn’t directly confront Turkey. Talks between the two countries are expected within the next couple days.
Israel -
Struck Hezbollah sites near Homs Syria overnight, currently has airspace restricted over the Golan today. Generally this has become a routine airstrike for Israel. With Turkey demolishing so much of the Syrian ADA capability in Idlib, its overall capability is stretched thin, giving Israel some additional leeway.
With Netanyahu’s win in the 3d election, the current parliament is still in session and passed a bill forbidding an indicted person from being PM as well as establishing (retroactively) term limits. This will no doubt create even greater chaos as Israel tries to establish a new government.
CW2 -
A democrat (Candi CdeBaca) councilwomen in Denver tweeted supporting deliberately spreading Wuhan virus as Trump rallies. Given the proclivities of the left to engage in violent / dangerous behavior, this threat should be taken seriously.