Domestically, the situation has changed significantly from virus to riots/insurrection now back to virus.
Wuhan Virus -
DoughtyOne post as of 7/18/2020
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3866182/posts
Today’s post 7/19/20
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3866325/posts
Of all the insanity, more appears. The nefarious Dr Fauci has come out and praised how New York “handled” the corona virus. He must have forgot that nearly 50% of the deaths were due to New York placing infected patients into nursing home/long term care facilities and infecting/killing the most vulnerable there.
More numbers gaming, Texas has reduced its infection numbers by over 3000 due to incorrect reporting.
Nationally, deaths have not spiked as the number of reported infections have.
Economy -
More companies announcing bankruptcy. Others trying to stablize in the face of a second shutdown.
CW2/Civil Unrest -
What we’re seeing now is not democracy. It’s a classical marxist rebellion.
Reports that the DOJ is looking at whether or not deliberate spreading of the corona virus is occurring and if chargeable as terrorism. In Florida, corona virus “parties” allegedly by gang members to put fear into locals has been reported. there is reportedly a FBI alert issued Thursday that extremist groups have instructed their followers to spread COVID-19 at places of worship, markets, and political offices.
FAA has issued a NOTAM for Portland thru August 16th. Reason is Special Security. Many wondering if a more aggressive action on the federal level is pending. Others look at the potential for rioters using drones to cause trouble. There was a report of a Portland Police aircraft circling the down town last night. Monitoring.
DHS has confirmed law enforcement strike teams are working in Portland targeting rioters for arrest and prosecution. With the screams of ‘storm troopers’, democrats from pelosi on down are condoning the rioters while denouncing legitimate law enforcement tactics.
Portland law enforcement got a slap in the face last night when the Portland Police Association building was set on fire. The police response was swift. Also, federal law enforcement was banned in the Portland police EOC.
China -
Rumblings in the international banking system centered on China. Bank runs are reported to have begun at Chinese banks after what is being described as “rumors” were spread on social media warning depositors of bank failures. The thing is, before the beginning of the global economic collapse China’s banking system was already seeing bank failures and being the largest banking system in the world it is extremely significant for the global economy.
If megaflooding isn’t enough, the locust plague is growing on the western side of the country and so far has advanced essentially unchecked, destroying square mile after square mile of crops and vegetation.
These natural disasters are putting extreme stress on the Chinese economy, The flooding is impacting key industrial centers around Wuhan while food supplies are being threatened.
Israel -
Netanyahu’s corruption trial is scheduled now for January 2020. His lawyers are still pushing to delay it until mid 2021.
Iran -
An explosion was reported in an oil pipeline in Iran Saturday, the latest in a mysterious series of blasts and blazes that have occurred throughout the country. Some of these can be explained away as due to maintenance failures, though others clearly have targeted the Iranian nuclear program. A third possibility is that government protesters are branching out and launching limited sabotage on Iranian sites. Just this past week protests were violently put down by the government. Direct (or indirect, i.e. helping mossad) acts may be what’s coming next as protests to topple the government continue.
Iran also has announced that they have estimated that over 25 million of its citizens have been infected by the corona virus. That is nearly double the global tally.
Iraq -
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is on a visit to Iraq to maintain pressure on Baghdad to maintain its strategic alliance with Iran amid US-Iran tensions. His visit comes after at least two visits by IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani, who took over from Qasem Soleimani after the US killed him next to Baghdad International Airport in January. Iran has fallen onto hard times maintaining the devout loyalty of Iraqi militia groups. Following the death of Soleimani, funds to these groups have dropped off substantially and Iraqi popular support has wained.
Libya -
Rumors that Egyptian AF has started bombing GNA forces near the town of Sirte. These forces have Turkish military elements embedded. Egypt has repeatedly stated that Sirte is the red line in the sand that GNA needs to stay away from. These attacks are reportedly due to to GNA forces moving to take Sirte. Earlier in the month, Egypt deployed armor units to the border as a warning. If Egypt has started air attacks, it will dramatically increase tensions with Turkey who is supporting the GNA because it can secure oil rights from them. Egypt is supports the LNA forces currently holding Sirte.
Great Coronavirus Panic of 2020 -
Many of the various categories I’m following have now integrated effects from this pandemic, but I’m keeping them separate for clarity. Check numerous FR threads for more specific corona virus threads.
Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/19/20
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3866325/posts
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the 12th straight week of a declining coronavirus death rate in the U.S. “Based on death certificate data, the percentage of deaths attributed to pneumonia, influenza or COVID-19 (PIC) decreased from 8.1% during week 27 to 6.4% during week 28, representing the twelfth week of a declining percentage of deaths due to PIC,” the CDC website states. Why isn’t this on MSN news?
CW2 -
Rioting kicked up a notch in both Portland and Seattle this weekend, bolstered in part by support from the liberal/Marxist city leadership of those cities. In both cities, law enforcement has had its hands increasingly tied and now almost appears pinata-like in their efforts. Police precinct buildings and federal buildings are the current focus. A riot organizer in Portland was recorded calling for the abolition of the United States - this is not about Floyd anymore.
Today (Monday) has been announced by BLM as “Strike for Black Lives Day”, calling for walkouts across the nation to try to force businesses to submit to black racism through intimidation. I wouldn’t be surprised that businesses that don’t take a knee will be vandalized/burned later tonight.
High profile Michelle Malkin was assaulted at a Back the Blue rally in Denver over the weekend and prevented from speaking. Reports are that the police refused to make any arrests and allowed the rioters to shut things down.
MY OBSERVATIONS - Folks, the ugly factor is going to go off the charts as we approach the election. The trend is there. The tempo of rioting had stepped back for a short period, but now is increasing in the BLM/Antifa strongholds of Portland and Seattle. I strongly suspect the relatively ‘calm’ period was for restock and reevaluation of the tactics and progress used. I also think that the reinvigorated attacks in Portland and Seattle are in part designed to test new tactics, coordination and methods. It also looks like here they are concentrating their efforts to embarrass the federal law enforcement and government through a sustained, violent effort. I think their end goal is to try to provoke a kinetic response from the Feds.
As an old intelligence officer, I’m reviewing potential actions that the more radical elements of these Marxists could use and it isn’t pretty. Imagine Yugoslavia on steroids. No matter who wins in November, the violence will step up an order of magnitude -Biden wins generates vengeance attacks on republicans. Trump wins generates vengeance attacks on republicans. Buckle up and make preparations now (and not just bullets - food, medical, comms, etc - this will be a prolonged event). Republicans in these hell hole liberal/Marxist run towns will be hardest hit.
Economy -
More rumblings from food suppliers on lack of aluminum cans for products. Heavy buying continues of basics causing stores to have difficulty keeping store shelves filled. Walk through your local store or walmart - shelves are pretty thinly stocked. Begin stocking up on critical items now, shelves will empty out fast if there is another nation wide (or even local) rush.
Iran -
Yesterday I noted an pipeline explosion. Sunday, an explosion was reported at the Islamabad power plant in Iran’s central Isfahan province, the latest in a mysterious set of explosions and blazes that have rocked the Islamic Republic. If these are, in fact, deliberate attacks, then Iran is facing a total intelligence breakdown.
Iran’s problems aren’t in this area alone, but some estimate the country’s inflation rate at about 105% with recent protests kicked off this weekend following increases in gasoline prices.
N Korea -
Long time absent but now it appears Kim is becoming more active. Kim himself led the large-scale meeting that is believed to have included officers of the General Political Bureau, the General Staff, the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces, vice directors of major WPK Central Committee departments and commanders within the Korean People’s Army. According to North Korea’s state-run KCNA news service, top of the agenda was “the key issues of further bolstering a war deterrent of the country”. Various observers think this may be tied to an effort to boost NK’s nuclear forces.
Libya -
Egypt is on the verge of entering the conflict in Libya due to GNA forces pushing to control the coastal town of Sirte. In June, Egyptian President Sisi categorized the cities of Sirte and Jufra as “red lines” that mustn’t be crossed. Any encroachment on these cities would compel Egypt to intervene in order to safeguard its national security. He ordered Egyptian armored forces to the border to bolster his statement. Over the weekend GNA forces maneuvered to try to take control of the city, with some reports that those forces were attacked by Egyptian air forces. Egyptian involvement in the conflict will place them directly opposite Turkish forces said to be accompanying GNA elements pressing Sirte.
Miscellaneous -
More small scale skirmishes along the Azerbaijan/Armenian border.