Rumors of War - King of the North

NATO gives Russia 5 weeks to destroy missiles violating INF Treaty
UPI reports: "NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday gave Russia five weeks to destroy ground-launched missiles that violate a treaty with the United States banning certain short- and intermediate-range missiles. [...] He said if Russia doesn't comply with the warning, NATO's response will be 'defensive, measured and coordinated.' [...] 'There are no new U.S. missiles in Europe, but there are new Russian missiles in Europe,' he said in December. [...] In April, the Russian government said it severed contact with NATO. The relationship has been strained since Russia forcibly annexed the Crimea peninsula in 2014. Tensions flared again last year when Russia captured Ukrainian soldiers and military ships in the Kerch Strait, a move Western governments said violated international law."

Comment: Russia is very good at spinning a counter-narrative to explain their actions. They say they are the aggrieved party, they are being merely defensive, reacting to actions from NATO and the United States. Yet the fact remains that NATO is a defensive alliance, it has not seized territory or expanded its arsenal, while Russia has done those things. Here we are in the 21st Century and European land has fallen to conquest and it is Russia that has done that, not NATO.  Crimea is now under Russian control and 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory is under Russian military occupation. If anything, the allied response to this territorial expansion in the heart of Europe has been extremely restrained, given the lessons of WWI and WWII. In fact, some might say that NATO has failed in performing its core mission of stopping Russian expansion. It is past time for NATO to assert itself.

Covenant With Many

Palestinians reject U.S. Mideast peace plan as 'snow job'
UPI reports: "About 2,000 protested in Ramallah, with one demonstrator holding a coffin to represent the chance the deal has in winning over Palestinians. The demonstrations are aimed to draw attention ahead of peace talks between U.S. and Middle East officials this week in Bahrain."

Comment: The U.S. is gathering moderate Arab nations to underwrite Palestinian economic development, the Palestinians reply that they don't want any of that kind of thing. No jobs, no infrastructure, no trade, nothing that might imply life can go on as usual if it means tolerating Israel.  How to make sense of such hatred?

Roaring Seas and Waves

Protecting U.S. coastal communities from sea level rise will cost $400 billion - UPI.com 
UPI reports: "Authors of the new report estimate 50,000 miles of coastal barriers will need to be built across 22 states over the next two decades. The report, compiled with the help of engineering firm Resilient Analytics, organizes the costs by city, county, congressional district and state. [...] researchers relied on moderate sea-level rise projections and expected yearly storm surge. Should sea levels rise more quickly than expected, governments will be forced to spend more and build more quickly."

Comment: This would be a good time to sell your coastal property. 

Mark of the Beast

Facebook plans its own currency for 2 billion-plus users
AP reports: "Facebook already rules daily communication for more than 2 billion people around the world. Now it wants its own currency, too. The social network unveiled an ambitious plan Tuesday to create a new digital currency similar to Bitcoin for global use, one that could drive more e-commerce on its services and boost ads on its platforms."

Comment:  Apparently Facebook is toying with the idea of creating a new digital currency for FB users. Since FB is a global social network, we could call it a new global digital currency. Pretty interesting, right? I'm thinking of the Biblical "money changers" at the temple, it's always been big business to "help" people exchange currency. This is one of the things a global currency would have to overcome, there are so many vested interests that would be threatened by making it so easy for people to use the same currency everywhere. On the other hand, it would make it easy for people to buy things in a truly global online marketplace and to send money internationally. It might put Western Union out of business! Still, the question remains, would you trust Facebook with your money?And if Facebook controls it, could they decide to restrict your access if you fall out of favor?

Rumors of War - Persia

Tensions rise as Iran speeds up enrichment, US sends troops
The AP reports: "Iran will surpass the uranium-stockpile limit set by its nuclear deal in the next 10 days, an official said Monday, raising pressure on Europeans trying to save the accord a year after the U.S. withdrawal lit the fuse for the heightened tensions now between Tehran and Washington. Hours later, the two countries appeared to approach a flashpoint when the Pentagon announced it was sending about 1,000 additional American troops to the Middle East to bolster security in the region in the face of what U.S. officials said is a growing threat from Iran."

Comment: Is this headed towards war? It's hard to imagine Iran suddenly returning to the table to negotiate a new deal with Trump. If that does not happen, then what is the alternative? 

Rumors of War - Persia

Stern words from Iran: US cannot 'expect to stay safe'
The AP reports: "Iran’s foreign minister warned the U.S. on Monday that it 'cannot expect to stay safe' after launching what he described as an economic war against Tehran, taking a hard-line stance amid a visit by Germany’s top diplomat seeking to defuse tensions. A stern-faced Mohammad Javad Zarif offered a series of threats over the ongoing tensions gripping the Persian Gulf. [...] Europe has yet to offer Iran a way to get around the newly imposed U.S. sanctions. Meanwhile, a July 7 deadline — imposed by Iran — looms for Europe to find a way to save the unraveling deal. Otherwise, Iran has warned it will resume enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels."

Comment: Although the subject of Iran has dropped off the radar for most Americans, it remains a flashpoint for those in the national security community, who continue to see it as a situation that could easily spiral out of control. 

Pestilence

CDC confirms 1,022 measles cases as outbreak reaches 28 states:
UPI reports: "Measles cases in the have hit a record number of 1,022, as outbreaks continue to plague patches of the United States. The updated number of cases, announced Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is 40 more than last Monday's official report and more than 20 more than last Thursday's report, when the number first crossed the 1,000 case mark."

Comment: I wonder at what point to they declare a public health emergency?