Previously posted on my Facebook Page.
Associated Press: “Iranian spokesman reads 'letter to the American people' at news conference.” This requires a lot of pondering. I see more a fishy U.S. divide influence here, and I suspect Washington’s “other side” lurking in the shadows. The 25-page “open letter” to the American people urges U.S. voters to reject President Donald Trump's policies etcetera. Sounds like a Blue campaign pitch for the midterms and 2028?
Anyhow, the rest of the “demands” or “requests” are no-brainer geopolitical stereotypes (sic). Such as, a push for an end to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. And that, the only way for the conflict to end, the letter states, is for Washington to admit defeat and withdraw its forces from the region. “Withdrawal” can be done, sure. But to “admit defeat” is a gargantuan issue–for the U.S. and Iran, of course. And what about the IRGC’s “terror” underlings all over the region? Would they withdraw?
And the loud cliche: As covered by Reuters, the text defended Iran's nuclear program as peaceful and accused the U.S. of using the issue as a ruse to plunder Iran's wealth and reduce the country to a colony. Oh well.
I have read/heard this blah for decades! <>All nine nations who maintain nuke warheads say their program is “peaceful.” WMDs, tools for peace? Duh. <>Economy-hobbling Iran, a Shia nation, naturally rejects the U.S. or the West per se. But they can allow top trade partners China and BRICS (Iran is a member since 2024) to “plunder their resources.” The word really isn’t “plunder” but “aid in economic recovery.” It’s just that hardline Iran doesn’t dig anything-Western, and there’s no way to change that.
Meanwhile, how do the UN’s Security Council deal (or punish) the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for its massacre of thousands of protesters in January this year, which forced Mr Trump’s hand to launch a military strike in Tehran? 🇺🇸☮️🇮🇷
The Hill: “Hegseth instructs Pentagon to defend midterms from 'foreign actors'.” Foreign influence or foreign money are facts in U.S. elections, or in elections elsewhere, regardless that it is “illegal.” U.S. federal law strictly prohibits foreign nationals and entities from directly or indirectly contributing, donating, or spending money in U.S. federal, state, or local elections. But there are many ways to go around that "law," of course.
Let’s talk about Political Action Committees (PACs). Regardless of the law, foreign-owned companies incorporated in the U.S. can form PACs. How? Funds come entirely from domestic U.S. employees or executives, not foreign parent treasuries. Here: Profits generated by a U.S. subsidiary's operations fund general corporate overhead, indirectly freeing up domestic executive resources for political giving.
And we can also talk of “dark money” and the Social Welfare Group (NGOs, foundations) loophole. You see, 501(c)(4) non-profit social welfare organizations are exempt from disclosing their underlying donors. So these groups receive funds from various sources as long as primary activities remain non-political (uh-huh?) And so foreign funds channeled into these non-profits can be transferred to Super PACs, obscuring the original source of the money.
And other ways, too. <>Foreign donors can legally influence major policy, redistricting, or constitutional changes even when barred from backing specific candidates. <>Lobbyists use their personal U.S. salaries (guess who hands the payroll) to donate heavily to key political figures, securing access that benefits foreign clients. <>Skim through the dubiousness of shell companies etcetera. The debate on companies laundering funds into political committees. Or “anonymous contributions.” (Thinking about drug cartel juice?) 🏛🗽🏛
CBS: “The Spider flown to the U.S. to face drug trafficking and terrorism charges.” Geovany Andres Rojas a.k.a. “The Spider” is an accused Colombian drug kingpin who was extradited to San Diego to face federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. Geovany was a leader of Comandos de la Frontera, a faction of former FARC fighters trafficking cocaine in the Putumayo region bordering Ecuador and Peru.
As an ex-FARC guerrilla, it follows that Mr Rojas used to promote a political line of agrarianism and anti-imperialism. The revolutionary FARC, or Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, advocates Far-Left politics and follows a Marxist-Leninist ideology.
Meanwhile, The Spider’s story makes me recall how cocaine trafficking heavily figured into the broader Iran-Contra scandal era (in the 1980s) as an illicit funding source used by the Nicaraguan Contras—and protected or ignored by U.S. intelligence agencies—after Congress banned direct American military aid. But the primary rebel groups involved in the Contra scandal were the right-wing insurgents, who fought to overthrow Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista government.
The largest Contra faction was the Nicaraguan Democratic Force (FDN). And there’s the Democratic Revolutionary Alliance (ARDE). Edén Pastora, a former hero of the leftist revolution against the dictator Anastasio Somoza, led this separate armed resistance group based in Costa Rica.
Left-wing, Right-wing. And cocaine and drug cartels. Complex, isn’t it? Anyhow, the kingpin of all kingpins, Pablo Escobar (d. 1993) had direct political involvement and ambitions, whereas Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán focused entirely on criminal enterprise and used corruption (or narcopolitics) rather than public office to maintain power. ⚖️😒⚖️
THE controversy surrounding former Dateline NBC host Chris Hansen primarily stems from the intense fallout and fatal incidents tied to his show, “To Catch a Predator,” alongside later legal and financial troubles. And then this, per New York Sun: “Chris Hansen Weighs Legal Action Against A24 Over ‘Primetime,’ Calls Film a Betrayal.”
I don’t really care about the movie or how it “capitalized” on Mr Hansen’s reality TV “claim to fame.” While I am one of those hardliners who favors capital punishment to pedophiles, I concur with legal experts’ position that the show's methods “crossed the line.” Vigilante-style stings that are essentially entrapment and sensationalism (for TV ratings) that interfered with actual law enforcement investigations.
“To Catch a Predator” was eventually canceled in 2008. After all these, Chris figured in a number of financial troubles, and was arrested in Stamford, Connecticut, and charged with issuing bad checks. So he’s got to sue thriving indie outfit A24, and at least get some dough to pay his rent or mortgage. Sure. 🎥📹📽
ABC: “Cornell rape case reopened after woman files civil lawsuit against multiple students.” Not necessarily commenting on this story, I tend to recall Tom Wolfe’s controversial 2004 novel, “I Am Charlotte Simmons.” A navigation of a college life, sex, and status on an elite campus. The story centers on Ms Simmons, a brilliant and sheltered young woman from a poor, rural North Carolina town who arrives at the fictional, elite Dupont University on a full scholarship.
Charlotte expects an intellectual haven, but instead finds a campus dominated by a hedonistic culture of heavy drinking, hookup sex, and aggressive social status. Mr Wolfe’s book was published more than two decades ago and a lot has changed or evolved. Good or bad would probably be a matter of individual perception. Meanwhile, we didn’t have OnlyFans then, an online subscription platform where content creators can share photos, videos, and live streams directly with fans who pay a monthly fee or tips. Of course, you know what “contents” means.
I am not necessarily saying that the “changes” in young people’s realities prod sexual offenses or rape. But I hope you know where I am going with this. ⚖️😒⚖️
