Politics

[Scott CWO]

I am not sure how well developed the Cartel open source intel analysis is, but this bit of data would give me pause and motivate consideration for an immediate investment in several crates of burner phones. A very deep reinforced bunker might be a useful thing to locate as well.

RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Just Flew Unprecedented Mission Off Mexico

An RC-135V looks to have flown two sorties in the past 48 hours over the tight confines of the Gulf of California that sits adjacent to a notorious cartel hotspot.

www.twz.com

According to comments about the same flight tracker, there is a C130 headed across the border towards Sinaloa at HALO altitudes. I wonder if that is true?

 

[Doubleplay]

If anyone knows and understands the meaning of “soft power projection”can also easily understand why the USAID exists.
In the absence of US, China and Russia always fills the void.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Good Morning Doubleplay, I appreciate that you being a minority in your views on this site are able to voice your opinions. Without it getting ugly. How boring it would be to recite our same views to only those that hold the same beliefs and opinions.

BUT!
As I have said before. Ending DEI does not mean there should not be equal opportunities.

Ending illegal immigration does not mean we do not want legal immigration.

Ending trans dancing hour in elementary school doesn’t mean we hate Trans and Gay people.

And getting rid of the nefarious USAID that refuses congressional oversight. Does not mean we can not help other people and nations in need.

These are lazy arguments meant to lure the discussion away from the real issue.

USAID has had zero oversight for decades. And have been involved in overthrowing our enemies enemies enemy which we end up either arming or fighting with our own blood and treasure. USAID is a front for covert regime change and other nefarious operations. We can not discuss here. It’s also a large slush fund.

So now when somebody knocks on the door and ask what they do and we wanna see the books they have been left alone so long they think they are completely above all laws and oversight

We no longer have the luxury to rain billions of dollars all over the world without accountability. The US taxpayer borrowing money for USAID needs to end.

 

[mdwest]

USAID isn’t needed to project soft power. Soft power can be projected by any agency. That’s a matter of program and policy, not a matter of agency…

USAID didn’t exist until 1961.. prior to 61 we had been projecting soft power for quite some time..

USAID didn’t become an independent agency of the State Dept until 1998.. prior to 98 its direction came straight from the SECSTATE and its policy decisions and programs aligned with the SECSTATE soft power projection intentions..

Since becoming autonomous they have pretty much run off the rails and no longer align their mission or the purpose of their programs with the State Dept as a matter of policy or even priority…

Which actually has helped China and Russia with their soft power projection globally (we don’t have a unified mission or cause between agencies as often as not… while the Chinese and Russians clearly do)…

I don’t know a single person in government, other than those that work at USAID or with governmentally aligned NGOs that make their living off of USAID that will tell you that USAID is well run, effective, or brings any value to the US tax payer…

They as a rule simply suck at almost everything they do.. and get in the way of other efforts more than they assist…

Even foreign governments detest USAID… multiple heads of state of developing countries have publicly stated that getting rid of USAID is a good thing… they want US aid and development dollars.. but they’d prefer to get them from an agency that is actually effective.. somewhere embedded in this thread is the President of El Salvador’s statement on USAID.. Hungary also came forward this week stating killing USAID is a good idea… the President of Mexico has said she supports dismantling USAID and would prefer development dollars come from another agency…

these are countries that have active/current USAID projects in their home states… and are potentially going to lose money as a result of the USAID closure… but support it…

Because they, like everyone I know in US Govt (which isn’t a small number of people since govt is the industry I work in), to include very liberal govt employees that I work with at the State Dept.. all agree that USAID is a clown show.. and a big reset button needs to be hit…

Trump and Musk find unexpected ally in push to shut down USAID

Trump signed an executive order imposing an unprecedented freeze on foreign assistance, effectively shutting down many of USAID's programs.

www.newsweek.com

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has criticized USAID for a while. She told a news outlet that the federal agency stonewalled her last year when she tried to investigate their spending and even threatened legal action.

Trump and Musk should gut USAID. America needs to fix our own house first. | Opinion

USAID should be gutted. Billions of taxpayer dollars are going to organizations around the world that are intentionally or unintentionally wasting it.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Brent in Az]

So far, 20,000 Federal employees have accepted Trump's buy-out offer. They will be paid thru September.
I don't like that. It's a lot of money.
Can't they just be fired outright?

 

[Red Leg]

I suspect this is a bit of an unwelcome development for the Gaza real-estate development deal, but it underscores the issue the Palestinian people have represented to any normalization process between Israel and its neighbors. I think it is the height of naivety to think they simply can be ignored or carted off somewhere.

Someone correct me, but watching the video of the announcement again I had the distinct impression Trump took Netanyahu by surprise. I would hope such a bold assertion of US power would have been vetted with Trump's national security team. That said, I do not think anyone would be surprised if it wasn't. Perhaps like injecting disinfectants to fight Covid?

Saudi Arabia contradicts Trump, vows no ties with Israel without creation of Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia said it would not establish ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is created, contradicting a suggestion from U.S. President Donald Trump.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Brent in Az]

According to comments about the same flight tracker, there is a C130 headed across the border towards Sinaloa at HALO altitudes. I wonder if that is true?

A C-130 gunship should pay the cartel strongholds a visit

 

[Brent in Az]

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has criticized USAID for a while. She told a news outlet that the federal agency stonewalled her last year when she tried to investigate their spending and even threatened legal action.

Trump and Musk should gut USAID. America needs to fix our own house first. | Opinion

USAID should be gutted. Billions of taxpayer dollars are going to organizations around the world that are intentionally or unintentionally wasting it.

www.usatoday.com

The U.S.A needs to quit being everyone else's sugar daddy.
Not to mention eliminating all the cash flow that finds its way into the wrong pockets

 

[mdwest]

It’s almost impossible to fire a federal employee… unfortunately the cost associated with firing one, unless you caught them in something like a criminal act, would likely be as high as paying them a severance package to leave..

Lots and lots of red tape.. lots and lots of protection built into decades of policy, unions, etc..

You’d be amazed at how bad it can be…

The severance offering was a move of brilliance IMO from the Trump administration…

It will cost a lot in the short term.. but will glean a large savings in the long term… and also clears out a ton of dead weight and potentially obstructionist employees at the same time..

 

[Red Leg]

So far, 20,000 Federal employees have accepted Trump's buy-out offer. They will be paid thru September.
I don't like that. It's a lot of money.
Can't they just be fired outright?

Nope. It is actually a brilliant ploy. Firing GS employees without cause is a loser lawsuit waiting to happen. Having them leave voluntarily won't really cost any more than the class action, and frees up departments to do restructuring that will eliminate the need to hire against those lost personnel.


LOL - or what @mdwest said.

 

[Brent in Az]

Nope. It is actually a brilliant ploy. Firing GS employees without cause is a loser lawsuit waiting to happen. Having them leave voluntarily won't really cost any more than the class action, and frees up departments to do restructuring that will eliminate the need to hire against those lost personnel.


LOL - or what @mdwest said.

Many of those were working remotely at home (Post Covid), and refusing to return to the office.
Firing people for insubordination seems like a no brainer.

 

[Northern Shooter]

CANZUK when?

 

[Brent in Az]

It’s almost impossible to fire a federal employee… unfortunately the cost associated with firing one, unless you caught them in something like a criminal act, would likely be as high as paying them a severance package to leave..

Lots and lots of red tape.. lots and lots of protection built into decades of policy, unions, etc..

You’d be amazed at how bad it can be…

The severance offering was a move of brilliance IMO from the Trump administration…

It will cost a lot in the short term.. but will glean a large savings in the long term… and also clears out a ton of dead weight and potentially obstructionist employees at the same time..

I understand it's a brilliant move by Trump's administration.
I just dont like the fact that all that dead weight gets 7 months of free paychecks.
Federal government needs to modify the termination policies.

 

[mdwest]

Many of those were working remotely at home (Post Covid), and refusing to return to the office.
Firing people for insubordination seems like a no brainer.

Sadly, not in the fed govt space… and certainly not the the DC / federal courts space..

Virginia, Maryland, and DC courts … municipal, state, and federal, as a rule are VERY employer unfriendly… and there have been so many protections written into both policy and regulation related to federal employment, that actually terminating someone for even clear cause is no easy feat.. it’s going to cost a ton of man hours, a ton of dollars, require a mountain of paperwork, and actual investigation, etc etc.. that is literally going to take several months to complete..

What is needed is a complete overhaul of the regulatory environment related to federal employment…

Until that’s done, “firing” people, even for cause, is really something of a non starter..

 

[deewayne2003]

If anyone knows and understands the meaning of “soft power projection”can also easily understand why the USAID exists.
In the absence of US, China and Russia always fills the void.

What you are failing to realize is that USAID was actually helping the Chinese and Russians GAIN influence by attempting to force policies on governments that do not align with their culture.

Example - USAID comes in to Africa and tells a certain head of state that USAID will give them millions of dollars of aid for a project, but ONLY if they first agree to implement transgender rights into their policies...... Even though these policies are wildly unpopular with the citizens of that country.

Then the Chinses come along and say - No problem, not only will we fund your project in full; but we can also help you implement our "Social credit score" policy which will help you control the population.

Just like China has done with setting up water wells that require an ID card to get water........

Then if the citizens go against the governments will, you can cut off their water.

 

[mdwest]

Federal government needs to modify the termination policies.

Completely agree..

It would blow your mind, and the piss you off, if I told you 1/10th of the stories I have related to USG employees behaving in ways that would result in immediate termination for cause, even in very liberal states like NY and CA where the penalties and challenges associated with terminations are severe… but the fed govt just slaps the employee on the wrist or stops their ability to progress in their career for a few years… they very very rarely even attempt to terminate… because policy, regulation, etc prohibits it…

In 20+ years of working directly with multiple fed govt agencies… Ive known of exactly one instance where a GS employee was terminated for cause… this employee was violating Saudi law while living in Saudi… manipulating US contractors to work out of scope for his personal benefit, was straight up lying to US govt and Saudi officials about matters of national security, etc etc (many other things as well)…

It took a full blown criminal investigation from USAF OSI, where they found actual criminal action but chose not to pursue criminal charges (they just let the employment side ride out), 6 months of work, and required dozens of federal employees and contractors to get involved..

And only after the contract firm that was wronged threaten to sue the federal govt, did the USAF fire the guy…

 

[Red Leg]

Sadly, not in the fed govt space… and certainly not the the DC / federal courts space..

Virginia, Maryland, and DC courts … municipal, state, and federal, as a rule are VERY employer unfriendly… and there have been so many protections written into both policy and regulation related to federal employment, that actually terminating someone for even clear cause is no easy feat.. it’s going to cost a ton of man hours, a ton of dollars, require a mountain of paperwork, and actual investigation, etc etc.. that is literally going to take several months to complete..

What is needed is a complete overhaul of the regulatory environment related to federal employment…

Until that’s done, “firing” people, even for cause, is really something of a non starter..

Per individual case.

 

[Red Leg]

Many of those were working remotely at home (Post Covid), and refusing to return to the office.
Firing people for insubordination seems like a no brainer.

You would think. But not a federal employee.

 

[Beaufort]

A C-130 gunship should pay the cartel strongholds a visit

Hmmm, I don’t know. I’m thinking something more along the lines of the B-2 Spirit or the B-52 Stratofortress.