Yesterday, an overzealous prosecutor, Alvin Bragg, the District Attorney of Manhattan, and a grand jury criminally indicted former President Trump. A court has not yet convicted the 45th president, but we expect him to appear next week in front of officials to be photographed, fingerprinted, and potentially handcuffed.
A year ago, citizens in the subcontinent were stunned to learn that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, the former playboy cricket captain turned politician, was deposed from office. His political opponents, aided by the dreaded ISI (the country’s intelligence agency), engineered a no-confidence motion forcing him to step down.
Once out of office, Khan became a victim of government oppression. He was charged under the country’s antiterrorism act in August. Later, he faced charges of selling state assets when he was Prime Minister, adding a corruption angle. This week, an Islamabad court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant. Pakistan was doing what it does best – deny a lawfully elected leader the chance to complete a full five-year term in office.
Now turn to America where an intensely focused resistance movement has taken aim at Donald Trump, Pakistan-style, since the summer of 2016. Every imaginable group — the Democrats, the media, progressive activists, the so-called Deep State (officials of various government agencies and lobbyists in Washington), the Hollywood elite, the Never-Trumpers in the Republican Party, and even foreign leaders and the foreign press — sought to deny him victory in the 2016 election.
On the day Trump was inaugurated, the Washington Post ran a story that said it was time to plan for his impeachment. A few months later, a special counsel was appointed to investigate his Russia-Russia connections. Immediately after the special counsel delivered a report exonerating him, the Democratic Congress used information from a whistle-blower to bring impeachment charges for an inappropriate call that Trump made to current global media star, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
Trump survived the first impeachment fine, but his detractors weren’t done with him. The media, which led the charge, covered him non-stop, all negatively, ignoring his policy successes. His tax cuts were popular with businesses and the GOP. A trade deal with Mexico and Canada called USMCA, which has significant protections for American workers, reset relations with the two countries. His ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy curtailed illegal immigration to a trickle compared to the mess today at the Southern Border.
America became energy independent for the first time in over 50 years and became a net exporter. No new wars were fought. Trump ordered a drone strike against a militant Iranian general after withdrawing from the JCPOA. He teamed up with Russia and Israel to destroy the ISIS in Syria. Trump had sown the seeds for what would eventually become the Abraham accords to get two Arab nations, Bahrain and the U.A.E., to recognize Israel. In December 2019, Trump was unstoppable and cruising to re-election.
Then, Covid-19 hit. The economy tanked as nearly 40 million people lost their jobs. The media had finally found a sweet spot. It could finally report negative stories about the economy for the first time since Trump assumed office. And in a gift to the Left, George Floyd happened. Trump was immediately framed as the reason for the racist behavior of a few bad apples in police forces. They played his “very fine people on both sides” tape from Charlottesville again and again.
Trump warned that with Democrats pushing for universal no-excuse mail ballots and relaxed voter integrity rules for access and counting, the 2020 election results would be suspect. Biden won the presidency by campaigning from his basement. The nearly four-year effort by the resistance was finally successful.
But no one in the media expressed curiosity to investigate the fantastic result. No American president had ever lost reelection if he won more votes than his first time. Trump had won 11 million more votes. He naturally felt entitled to a review – but took it too far when the tired courts did not accede, and he championed the events of January 6.
Safe in the notion that Trump was defeated, the Democrats wanted to seal their victory by never allowing him back to the White House. They successfully spearheaded a second impeachment in the House but could only get to the Senate after Trump left Washington. The only Constitutional remedy for impeached presidents is removal from office. The Senate did not convict. Trump was free to pursue a second term, although all of Big Tech had suspended him for life.
Disappointed in the Senate outcome, wily Nancy Pelosi constituted a partisan Congressional oversight committee with two RINOs. Using taxpayer dollars, the J6 committee unleashed a prime-time summer spectacular. On December 19, the committee unanimously referred Trump to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation and potential prosecution for his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. The DOJ is yet to make a determination as to what to do.
Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor of Fulton County, Fani Willis, continues to investigate if Trump broke the law when he allegedly tried to apply pressure to overturn the 2020 Georgia election.
And last August, the FBI raided Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago, alleging that he kept classified records. This investigation is also ongoing and has become vastly more complicated to the Left’s liking when sensitive documents were found in Biden’s and Mike Pence’s homes.
America, the world’s oldest democracy, has become no different from Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, and other nations, where political persecution is as routine as the morning sunshine.
The saving grace is that, unlike those countries, targeting a former U.S. president has never happened before. There are numerous questions for which no answers are imminent. Can Trump be convicted, although the statute of limitations expired in 2018? Can he pardon himself if he wins in 2024, although a state court has sentenced him? The law is vague and unsettled; the courts do not have precedents to decide these conflicts.
But that America has come to this point is depressing. America has become the world’s laughing stock because the Left’s hatred of Trump has destroyed the shining beacon on the hill.
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Geopolitics And Geoeconomics
Russia To Keep Missile Test Notices Under Cold War-Era Deal – A.P.
A top Russian diplomat said Russia would continue to give the U.S. advance notice about its missile tests despite suspending the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the two countries.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov’s statement followed his comments on Wednesday. He said Moscow had halted all information exchanges with Washington envisioned under the 2011 New START nuclear pact, including missile test warnings.
Earlier this week, the U.S. announced that Moscow and Washington have stopped sharing biannual nuclear weapons data as envisioned by New START. U.S. officials said Washington had offered to continue providing the information after Putin suspended Russia’s participation, but Moscow told Washington it wouldn’t share its data.
Russian Foreign Minister To Chair UN Security Council Meeting In New York – AFP
Moscow said its foreign minister would chair a UN Security Council meeting in April when Russia will hold the rotating presidency of the international body.
Russia has repeatedly said it was confronted at the UN by the “collective West” that has ostracized Russia since the beginning of the Ukraine offensive.
The presidency rotates every month between the 15 member states. Russia last chaired the council in February 2022.
Ukraine earlier criticized the upcoming change in the presidency and has called for Russia to be removed from Security Council over the military operation launched in February last year.
White House Urges Russia To Act Professionally During UN Security Council Presidency – Reuters
The White House urged Russia to conduct itself professionally when it assumes its scheduled UN Security Council presidency next month, saying there were no means to block Moscow from the post.
“We urge Russia to conduct itself professionally,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a news briefing. “We expect Russia to continue to use its seat on the council to spread disinformation” and justify its actions in Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, and no feasible international legal pathway exists to change that reality,” Jean-Pierre said.
IAEA Head: Military Activity ‘Increasing’ Around Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant – UPI
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mariano Grossi said he had altered his plans to protect the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Grossi said he had been working with Russia and Ukraine on a proposal to protect the power plant, the largest in Europe, but said the plan “had evolved” from his initial proposal to establish a protection zone around the plant to instead ensuring both sides were aware of the proper steps to ensure it is safe.
He said that the situation was not improving and that it was “obvious that military activity is increasing” in the region.
Taiwan Says Nine Chinese Planes Crossed Taiwan Strait Median Line – Reuters
Taiwan’s defense ministry said nine Chinese planes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Friday, adding that they were carrying out combat readiness patrols.
The defense ministry said that China’s actions deliberately created tension in the Taiwan Strait, adding that it condemned the irrational actions.
Japan To Tighten Export Controls Of Advanced Chip Equipment To China – Kyodo News
Japan said it would tighten export controls for advanced chip manufacturing equipment to prevent the technology from being used for military purposes, joining U.S.-led efforts to stymie China’s ability to develop high-end semiconductors.
Japan’s decision to expand the scope of chip-manufacturing goods that require approval for export, expected to come into force in July, is likely to anger Beijing. However, Tokyo did not single out the neighboring economic powerhouse as the restriction’s main target.
Jack Ma Engineered Alibaba Group’s Split From Abroad: Report – WION
Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma engineered the corporate breakup of his e-commerce empire from abroad, as he wanted to make it more competitive and efficient in China.
On Tuesday, Alibaba group said that it is planning to split the company into six units and would look for fundraisings or listings for most of them, marking the biggest restructuring in its 24-year history.
The move, which raised eyebrows among experts, has triggered speculation about whether Ma struck any deal with China’s government.
Britain Agrees To Join Trans-Pacific Trade Pact – Reuters
UK PM Rishi Sunak said Britain had agreed to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the biggest trade deal since Brexit.
Britain has been looking to build global trade ties following its departure from the EU in 2020 and has looked to pivot toward geographically distant but fast-growing economies.
It is deepening its ties in the Indo-Pacific as its foreign policy framework casts China as an “epoch-defining challenge.”
Other members of CPTPP are Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Finland Set To Join NATO After Turkey Finally Approves Its Application – UPI
Finland is set to join NATO after Turkey finally set aside months of delays and approved its application.
On Thursday, the Turkish parliament voted unanimously in favor of Finland’s membership after Hungary approved it Monday.
“All 30 NATO members have now ratified Finland’s membership. I want to thank every one of them for their trust and support,” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said. “Finland will be a strong and capable ally, committed to the security of the Alliance.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has accused Finland and Sweden of housing Kurdish “terrorist organizations.” While he changed his tune on Finland, Turkey opposed Sweden joining NATO.
EU Members Agree To Nearly Double Renewable Energy By 2030 – RFI
The European Union reached a deal to almost double the share of renewables in the 27-nation bloc’s energy consumption by 2030. The aim is to achieve carbon neutrality and stop Russian fossil imports.
The provisional political agreement, reached after negotiations between the EU parliament and states, seeks to raise the share of renewable energy to 42.5 percent from 22 percent today.
The EU has set an ambitious target to become a “climate neutral” economy by 2050, with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
UN Court Rejects Iranian Bid To Unfreeze Funds But Faults U.S. For Seizing Other Assets – RFE/RL
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rejected Iran’s bid to unblock nearly $2 billion in assets belonging to its central bank that the United States froze over alleged terrorist attacks.
The Hague-based court said it did not have jurisdiction over $1.75 billion in bonds and accumulated interest in a Citibank account in New York.
But the court simultaneously found that the United States had “violated” the rights of some Iranians and companies whose assets were also frozen. The ruling ordered the United States to pay compensation but said the amount should be determined through negotiation.
N. Korea Plans To Send Weapons, Munitions To Russia In Exchange For Food: NSC – Yonhap
John Kirby, National Security Council (NSC) coordinator for strategic communications, said North Korea seeks to secure food supplies in exchange and that the potential arms deal is being arranged through a Slovakian arms dealer, identified as Ashot Mkrtychev.
“We remain concerned that North Korea will provide further support to Russia’s military operations against Ukraine,” Kirby told a virtual press briefing, noting that North Korea delivered large quantities of munitions to Russia late last year.
The U.S. Department of Treasury said it had imposed sanctions on Mkrtychev for arranging the arms deal between North Korea and Russia.
UN Adopts Landmark Resolution On Climate Justice – AFP
The UN General Assembly took a major step towards urgent global climate action. Members adopted a resolution calling for the world’s top court to outline nations’ legal obligations to curb warming.
The measure hailed as a victory for the climate justice movement hopes to increase pressure on polluting countries failing to address the global warming emergency.
Pushed for years by Vanuatu, a small archipelago whose future is threatened by rising sea levels, and by Pacific islander youth, the resolution asks the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to lay out nations’ obligations for protecting Earth’s climate and the legal consequences they face if they don’t.
Pope Francis’ Health Improving After Antibiotics, Says Vatican
The Vatican on Thursday said that Pope Francis is responding well to the antibiotics given to cure his infectious bronchitis, and his health has improved.
On Wednesday, the pope was admitted to a hospital after the former complained about difficulty breathing, which raised concerns over the 86-year-old pontiff’s health, suffering from various ailments.
While conforming that Francis was not bedridden, the Vatican said that he said his prayers in the small chapel, which was within his hospital suite.
However, it remains unclear if Francis will be able to participate in any of the Holy Week events which will start with Palm Sunday on April 2.
52 Years After Capture, Orca Lolita May Return To Pacific – A.P.
More than 50 years after the orca Lolita was captured, plans are in place to return her from the Miami Seaquarium to her home waters in the Pacific Northwest, where a nearly century-old, endangered killer whale believed to be her mother still swims.
During a news conference, an unlikely coalition involving the theme park’s owner, an animal rights group, and an NFL owner-philanthropist announced the agreement.
The orca believed to be her mother, called Ocean Sun, continues to swim free with other members of their clan — known as L pod — and is estimated to be more than 90 years old.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
