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US Congress Releases Latest Version of Defense Bill, Includes Taiwan Measures
Read More »Tag: National Defense Authorization Act
How can people support Luigi Mangione but vote in droves to deny health care to others?
How can people support Luigi Mangione but vote in droves to deny health care to others?
Last week was a bizarre time to be queer on social media: Many cishet people voiced enthusiastic support for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, arguing that the health insurer’s denial of claims led to so many deaths that the murder was justified as retaliation. Meanwhile, Congress was passing a bill that would require an insurer (Tricare) to deny claims, and it was hard to get anyone to even pay attention to that.
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China vs. the US: shipbuilding, subsidies, and the Jones Act
Hypocrisy thrives where double standards prevail.
Earlier, I stupidly tweeted out an article about the Jones Act and shipbuilding and Colin Grabow, from the Cato Institute, liked it (he was quoted in the article). I looked him up and decided to listen to this video on the shipbuilding competition between China and the US, where he and a lawyer for United Steelworkers were on the panel. China is eating their lunch, and it’s the ruling elites’ own fault, yet they scapegoat China for it. The double standards over China’s “unfair economic practices” AKA the subsidizing of their shipbuilding industry irritates me (liars irritate me even more). States give subsidies, grants, and tax breaks to corporations, all the time. Fincantieri Marinette Marine is just one example, but Wisconsin had done the same for Foxconn. Foxconn received tax breaks and $3B in subsidies, which was “the largest ever subsidy provided by a state to a foreign company”, despite not living up to their promises.
Colin Grabow wants to end the Jones Act. I’ve made at least three video clips regarding the Jones Act, two with Sal Mercogliano from What’s Going On With Shipping and one from the government-funded CSIS (I’ve posted them, below). Spoiler alert: Sal says that the problem isn’t the Jones Act. Meanwhile, both CSIS and the Cato Institute (part of the Atlas Network) blame the Jones Act. Deregulation is a wet dream of big corporations (which fund both the Cato Institute and CSIS).
Read More »US: Smith–Mundt Modernization Act and Psychological Operations (MISO)
Dan Crenshaw’s measure greenlighting psychedelics to treat PTSD part of defense bill + More
The legislation would allow supervised clinical studies with active-duty members.
Dan Crenshaw’s measure greenlighting psychedelics to treat PTSD part of defense bill
Related:
First-ever provision for psychedelic studies included in defense bill
National Defense Authorization Act, pp. 402-406, p. 1817 ($50,311 allocated for R&D)
From a Capitol Hill Basement, Bannon Stokes the Republican Party Meltdown
The former Trump adviser has helped create the spectacle of G.O.P. dysfunction, using it to build his own following and those of the right-wing House rebels who took down Kevin McCarthy.
From a Capitol Hill Basement, Bannon Stokes the Republican Party Meltdown
US to Declare Azov’s a ‘Friendly’ Neo-Nazi Group
As if imposing a $900 penalty on every American household for Ukraine wasn’t enough, American politicians may surprise us further
US to Declare Azov’s a ‘Friendly’ Neo-Nazi Group
Related:
Ukrainian-born US lawmaker seeks to end ban on funding neo-Nazis
FEMA Money For Maui Disaster Relief May Get Caught Up In A Partisan Fight Over Ukraine
FEMA Money For Maui Disaster Relief May Get Caught Up In A Partisan Fight Over Ukraine
But the effort to get a speedy appropriation has foundered after the Biden administration sought $12 billion in emergency funding that would extend disaster relief programs while simultaneously requesting some $24.1 billion in military spending for Ukraine in the same package.
That means that funding Hawaii’s needs for Maui’s recovery has been tied to funding to back Ukraine’s military, an increasingly unpopular topic in some Republican circles. When the House passed its fiscal 2024 defense authorization bill early this summer, a contingent of several dozen House Republicans sought to prohibit additional U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
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Aussies, US agree to joint intel center, co-production of GMLRS
Adding a new layer to their already extensive intelligence cooperation, Australia and the United States will create a new Combined Intelligence Center–Australia within Australia’s Defense Intelligence Organization by 2024.
Aussies, US agree to joint intel center, co-production of GMLRS
US Announces $345 Million in Unprecedented Military Aid for Taiwan
The weapons are being provided through the presidential drawdown authority, the primary way the US has been arming Taiwan
US Announces $345 Million in Unprecedented Military Aid for Taiwan
Related:
China slams first US military aid to Taiwan island under Presidential Drawdown Authority
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities’ stubborn insistence on the secessionist position of “Taiwan independence,” attempting to seek “independence” by relying on the US and by using force, begging for US arms sales or military aid, and enhancing military collusion with the US are moves that are making Taiwan a powder keg and ammunition depot, and have increased the danger and risk of a conflict in the Taiwan Straits, Chen said.
If the DPP is allowed to follow this path to the end, the youth will only become cannon fodder, the spokesperson said.
…
But no matter how “Taiwan independence” forces collude with external interference forces, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is fully capable of crushing their attempts in seeking “independence” or resisting reunification by force, Wei said.
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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