Category: News

National Wreaths Across America Day has become such a big tradition that it’s hard to believe it began from just one personal tribute and a photo that went viral.

So how did it happen? Here’s the scoop:

The Worcester family of Harrington, Maine, owns their own tree farm. In 1992, they had a surplus of wreaths during the holiday season, so the family patriarch, Morrill – who had long felt indebted to our fallen veterans – got help from a Maine politician to have those spare wreaths placed beside graves in Arlington National Cemetery in areas that received fewer visitors each year.

Several volunteers stepped up to help, including veterans from American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and a truck company owner who transported the wreaths to Arlington, Virginia, where a small ceremony was held at the cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This remained a small yearly tradition for nearly 15 years until a photo taken at the 2005 ceremony went viral. Almost immediately, thousands of people wanted to know how to help or how they could begin a similar tradition in their states.

By the next year – with the help of some civic organizations and volunteers, including in the trucking industry – there were 150 simultaneous ceremonies held across the country. By 2008, the movement to remember, honor and teach had grown so much that Congress had declared the third Saturday in September National Wreaths Across America Day.

By 2014, the now-nonprofit Wreaths Across America had reached its goal of placing a wreath at all 226,525 graves in the cemetery.

The event continues to grow. This year, the organization shipped a staggering 1.75 MILLION wreaths to 1,640 locations that will hold ceremonies across the U.S. A few dozen locations overseas will participate. The organization said this was the first year they were granted permission to place wreaths at Normandy to honor those who died during World War II’s D-Day invasion.

Veterans and Gold Star families are many of the roughly 2 million volunteers who prepare the wreaths, ship them across the country and put them on the graves.

Pretty cool, right?

To all of those who have volunteered time, efforts and money to the cause, cheers to you!

The Hundred Acre Wood is opening up to our world as working-class family man Christopher Robin encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.

Disney’s Christopher Robin is directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by Alex Ross Perry and Allison Schroeder and a story by Perry based on characters created by A.A. Milne. The producers are Brigham Taylor and Kristin Burr with Renée Wolfe and Jeremy Johns serving as executive producers. The film stars Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin; Hayley Atwell as his wife Evelyn; Bronte Carmichael as his daughter Madeline; and Mark Gatiss as Keith Winslow, Robin’s boss. The film also features the voices of: Jim Cummings as Winnie the Pooh; Chris O’Dowd as Tigger; Brad Garrett as Eeyore; Toby Jones as Owl; Nick Mohammed as Piglet; Peter Capaldi as Rabbit; and Sophie Okonedo as Kanga.

Christopher Robin is set for release on Oct. 3, 2018.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 congressional campaign was fined by the state of New York for failing to provide workers’ compensation coverage to campaign staffers.

“The employer did not have the required workers’ compensation coverage from March 31, 2018 to April 30, 2018,” Melissa Stewart, the spokeswoman for New York’s Workers Compensation Board told The New York Daily News. “[It] was issued a final penalty of $1,500, which was paid.”

“This coverage is vital to ensuring workers are protected for on-the-job injuries,” Stewart continued.

The self-proclaimed Democratic socialist has been portraying herself as a champion for workers’ rights. During her campaign, she advocated for a $15 an hour minimum wage and a Federal Jobs Guarantee because according to her website, “anyone who is willing and able to work shouldn’t struggle to find employment.”

Interestingly, the progressive congresswoman bemoaned in August the closing of a restaurant where she was previously employed, however, the restaurant cited an Ocasio-Cortez-endorsed policy for its closure.

“The times have changed in our industry. The rents are very high and now the minimum wage is going up and we have a huge number of employees” one of restaurant’s co-founders said at the time.

“Ocasio-Cortez’s desired ‘living wage’ of $15 an hour has been a living hell for many small business owners in New York, who’ve been unable to offset the cost through higher prices,” Employment Policies Institute Managing Director Michael Saltsman said in response to the closure. “It’s fine to mourn the impending closure of your former employer — it’s better to understand the misguided minimum-wage mandates that contributed to that closure.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

CNN reports that US believes Israel bombed weapons targets in Syria overnight local time. Initial reports indicate that weapons targets have been destroyed on the ground in Syria, and while Israel is not making comments on the specific incident, their security forces have stated that they will take whatever actions they must to prevent weapons from reaching the hands of their enemies.

The Israeli military had no comment. But a source in the Israeli defense establishment told CNN’s Sara Sidner, “We will do whatever is necessary to stop the transfer of weapons from Syria to terrorist organizations. We have done it in the past and we will do it if necessary the future.”

Fox News report:

More details will be posted as they become available.

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The Heemo Base in Northeastern Syria is a crucial US base.

The US withdrew its forces from a base in Qamishli in Northeastern Syria, according to Al-Manar TV in Lebanon.

In December of 2018, the US President announced the withdraw of US troops from Syria and a partial withdraw of forces from Afghanistan and immediately in Washington it drew a fierce backlash from the majority of Congress which has been aggressively Pro-War and nation building but also even administration officials like James Mattis and Brett McGurk resigned.

Pressure has grown for Trump to keep U.S. forces in Syria despite ISIS holding just 1.5 kilometers of territory and being surrounded by Turkish aligned forces, Syrian regime forces, and SDF forces, but he is sticking to his guns on the withdraw.

S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian released today data for 2018 through April for their Consumer Credit Default Indices. The indices represent a comprehensive measure of changes in consumer credit defaults and show that the composite rate decreased four basis points to 0.92%. The bank card default rate rose eight basis points to 3.86%. The auto loan default rate fell six basis points from last month to 0.99%. The first mortgage default rate declined by four basis points, to a level of 0.68%.

Four of the five major cities saw decreases in composite default rates in April 2018. Chicago had the largest drop, down 14 basis points to 0.90%. The default rate for Dallas fell nine basis points, to 0.82%, while the rate for New York fell five basis points to 0.90%. Los Angeles saw a one basis point decrease, to 0.59%. Miami was the only major city which experienced an increase in default rates, up 65 basis points to 2.78%.

The composite default rate for Miami has increased to its highest level in more than five years. Default rates have remained stable for the other four major cities.

Bank card default rates have been higher or unchanged for seven consecutive months, and now are at their highest level since June 2012. Auto loan and first mortgage default rates continue to remain stable.

“The overall economic picture is positive, with continued moderate growth, a further decline in unemployment to below 4%, and quite strong consumer sentiment,” says David M. Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “Inflation remains at or below 2%, a level where most consumers tend to ignore small or periodic price increases. Among a wide range of economic indicators, there are two that hint of possible future concerns for some consumers. First, wage gains have not accelerated as the economy has improved. Average hourly earnings are rising at a 2.6% annual rate, only slightly faster than inflation. Second, home prices are increasing by 6% annually with some regions are seeing even larger gains. Neither of these has affected consumer credit defaults so far.

“Consumer borrowing is expanding as the economy continues to grow. Revolving credit – borrowing through bank and credit card accounts – is growing at about the same pace as the overall economy. Mortgage debt outstanding is rising at a similar pace. Non-revolving loans, including auto loans, are growing faster than the overall economy. As today’s modest default levels show, current debt levels are manageable. The fear is that when the next recession comes, debt levels will have climbed far higher while personal savings will have remained modest at best.”

The table below summarizes the April 2018 results for the S&P/Experian Credit Default Indices. These data are not seasonally adjusted and are not subject to revision.

S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices
National Indices
Index	April 2018 Index Level	March 2018 Index Level	April 2017 Index Level
Composite	0.92	0.96	0.90
First Mortgage	0.68	0.72	0.69
Bank Card	3.86	3.78	3.35
Auto Loans	0.99	1.05	0.90
Source: S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices
Data through April 2018

The table below provides the S&P/Experian Consumer Default Composite Indices for the five MSAs:

Metropolitan Statistical Area	April 2018 Index Level	March 2018 Index Level	April 2017 Index Level
New York	0.90	0.95	1.10
Chicago	0.90	1.04	0.94
Dallas	0.82	0.91	0.69
Los Angeles	0.59	0.60	0.69
Miami	2.78	2.13	1.30
Source: S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices
Data through April 2018

Rampage is the latest film with Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson and it is an exciting, thrilling and fun escapism type of movie. You can never go wrong with a Dwayne Johnson film. Here he plays a primatologist named Davis Okoya who keeps people at a distance who has bonded with a white Gorilla named George whom he rescued when he was two years old when his family was killed by poachers. George lives with other rescued animals on a San Diego wildlife preserve. George and Davis communicate quite frequently and proficiently through sign language.

Meanwhile, in 1998 a science lab was dealing with mutant microorganisms in space to conquer diseases but was discontinued in 2016 to turn the experiments into weapons of mass destruction. When the space station explodes in space it sends canisters containing the organisms down to the preserve area and they infect George, a wolf and a crocodile to gargantuan size. George is at least 20 feet tall and the wolf is 30 feet tall and the crocodile is huge and bigger than both of them and gives Godzilla a run for its’ money. All three are invincible and impervious to any machine gun fire of any military kind. The three battle it out in Chicago destroying buildings, crashing through buildings and on top of one another.  As the mutated beasts embark on a path of destruction, Okoye teams up with a discredited genetic engineer Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris), who explains that the pathogen was developed by a company called Energyne to rewrite genes on a massive scale and the military to secure an antidote and prevent a global catastrophe. She had hoped to advance CRISPR research as a potential cure for the disease but discovered that Energyne planned to use it as a biological weapon. The company fired her and sent her to prison for attempting to expose them.

Meanwhile, George escapes from captivity and goes on a rampage at the preserve. Davis calms him down, but George is captured by a government team led by Agent Harvey Russell and is put on an airplane. Meanwhile,  Energyne CEO Claire Wyden and her brother, Brett, send a squad of mercenaries led by Burke to capture the mutated wolf named Ralph, but they are all killed.

Claire, hoping to capture Ralph and use George to kill Kate so they can cover up their plans, uses a massive transmitter atop the Willis Tower to lure the animals, who have been engineered to respond aggressively to a certain sound frequency, to Chicago.

There are plenty of realistic action sequences the CGI of the creatures is very real and is getting more so as each new picture comes out. Dwayne Johnson has plenty of one line zingers too as when the wolf spreads its’ skin to reveal wing-like appendages, Okoya says sarcastically and surprised at the same time, “of course, the wolf has wings.”

When some mercenary guys fully loaded with guns and ammo are flown into the wildlife area one says, “What’s it like down there?” to which his partner says, “Just vegetation and animals, you’ll fit right in.”

If fun, action sequences and escapism with Dwayne Johnson and huge monsters is to your liking then I would suggest Rampage. Check out the exciting trailer below.

The Navy will commission its newest fast attack submarine, the future USS South Dakota (SSN 790), during an 11 a.m. (EST) ceremony Saturday, Feb. 2, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

The principal speaker will be U.S. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. The submarine’s sponsor is Mrs. Deanie Dempsey, wife of the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey. She will give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!” in a time-honored Navy tradition.

“USS South Dakota enters service during a period of dynamic security challenges,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “I am confident USS South Dakota and its crew will ensure our Navy and nation remain safe and strong, and proudly serve our nation’s interest for decades to come.”

USS South Dakota, a Virginia-class submarine designated SSN 790, is the third ship to bear the state’s name. The first South Dakota was an armored cruiser commissioned Jan. 27, 1908. The ship served in a convoy escort role during World War I before being renamed Huron June 7, 1920.  She was decommissioned following seven years of service in the Pacific on June 17, 1927. The second ship was a battleship commissioned March 20, 1942. She saw service in a number of important World War II battles including Santa Cruz, Guadalcanal, Philippine Sea, and Okinawa, earning thirteen battle stars over the course of the war. South Dakota was present at Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered and was later placed out of commission on Jan. 31, 1947.

USS South Dakota is the 17th Virginia-class attack submarine and the seventh Virginia-class Block III submarine. Virginia-class submarines are built to operate in the world’s littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities—sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

Live Stream of USS South Dakota Commissioning Ceremony:

Five Things to Know About USS South Dakota (SSN 790)

1. Namesake: USS South Dakota is named after the 40th state added to the Union.
   The submarine is the third ship to be christened “South Dakota.” The first USS South Dakota (ACR9/CA 9) was launched in 1904. Assigned to the Armored Cruiser Squadron, Pacific Fleet, South Dakota cruised off the west coast of the United States through August 1908. It was then sent on a cruise to Samoa and later operated in Central and South American waters. It returned home in 1912 and was placed in reserve at Puget Sound Navy Yard. The second USS South Dakota (BB 57) was commissioned March 1942 and assigned to Task Force 16 centered on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV 6). South Dakota conducted blockade operations against Japanese forces approaching Guadalcanal, where they engaged Japanese carrier forces in the Battle of Santa Cruz. BB-57 saw action in the Battle of Savo Island, Battle of Philippine Sea, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and other Japanese strongholds earning 13 battle stars.
2. Sponsor: Deanie Dempsey, wife of former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman and retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, is the ship’s sponsor and will be in attendance for the commissioning.
   Deanie spent several decades of service in support of the Army, before becoming a champion for all of the services in her role as the chairman’s spouse. In that capacity, she has engaged in countless activities in support of military families, coached and mentored military spouses of all services, participated in dozens of private and charitable organizations, traveled the world representing the United States military, hosted visits to the United States by the spouses of foreign military leaders, and coordinated the family support activities of the White House and Department of Defense.
3. Size/Endurance: The submarine is 377 feet long, has a 34-foot beam, and will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet and operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged while displacing approximately 7,800 tons submerged. It will operate for over 30 years without ever refueling.
4. Capability:  South Dakota is the seventh Block III submarine of the Virginia-class.
   The Virginia class has been improved to enhance littoral operations. The class has special features to support Special Operations Forces, including a reconfigurable torpedo room which can accommodate a large number of SOF and all their equipment for prolonged deployments and future off-board payloads. The class also has a large lock-in/lock-out chamber for divers. Traditional periscopes have been replaced by two photonics masts that host visible and infrared digital cameras atop telescoping arms. The Block III submarines have replaced the 12 individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes with two 87-inch Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles. The VPTs simplify construction, reduce acquisition costs, and provide for more payload flexibility than the smaller VLS tubes due to their added volume.
5. Missions: South Dakota is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; delivery of special operations forces; strike warfare; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and mine warfare.

Walking Tour of the USS South Dakota:

U.S Navy Fact File on the USS South Dakota:

Unmanned Systems

Unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV)

MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned air vehicles (FIRE SCOUT)

Flying-Swimmer (Flimmer) UAV/UUV

MQ-4C Triton

Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR)

MQ-25 UAS

Aircraft, Fixed Wing

C-2A Greyhound logistics aircraft

C-9 Skytrain logistics aircraft

C-12 Huron logistics aircraft

C-20 Gulfstream logistics aircraft

C-26

C-37A (Gulfstream V) and C-37B (Gulfstream 550)

C-130 Hercules logistics aircraft

C-40A Clipper logistics aircraft

E-2 Hawkeye Early Warning and Control Aircraft

E-6B Mercury airborne command post

EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft

EA-18G Growler Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft

F-5N/F Adversary aircraft

F-16A/B Fighting Falcon Fighter

F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter

F-35C Lightning II

Learjet 35/36

NU-1B Otter

P-8A Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA)

P-3C Orion and EP-3 Aries

S-3B Viking detection and attack of submarines aircraft

T-2C Buckeye jet trainer

T-6A Texan II Turboprop trainer

T-6B Texan II Turboprop Trainer

T-34C Turbomentor training aircraft

T-38 Talon supersonic trainer

T-39D radar-navigational trainer

T-39N/G Sabreliner training aircraft

T-44 Pegasus trainer

T-45A Goshawk training aircraft

TC-12 Huron trainer

U-6A Beaver all-purpose utility transport

RQ-2A Pioneer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

RQ-8A and MQ-8B Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

X-26A high performance glider

Aircraft, Rotary Wing

HH/UH-1N Iroquois helicopter

CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter

CH-53K King Stallion

H-3 Sea King helicopter

MH-53E Sea Dragon Helicopter

MH-60 Seahawk Helicopter

MH-60R Seahawk

MH-60S Seahawk

TH-57 Sea Ranger Helicopter

TH-6B helicopter

VH-3D Sea King helicopter

V-22B Osprey Tilt Rotor Aircraft

VH-60N Night Hawk helicopter

Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Training Targets

MK 30 Mod 1 Anti-Submarine Warfare Target

MK 30 Mod 2 Anti-Submarine Warfare Target

MK 39 Expendable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target (EMATT)

Guns, Weapon Systems

AEGIS Weapon System

AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)

Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR)

AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS)

AN/BPS-15/16 Radar

AN/SPQ-9B Radar Set

AN/SQQ-34 Aircraft Carrier Tactical Support System (CV-TSC)

AN/SQQ-89(V) Undersea Warfare / Anti-Submarine Warfare Combat System

AN/USQ-T46 Battle Force Tactical Training (BFTT)

AN/UYQ-100 Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW-DSS)

CEC – Cooperative Engagement Capability

CMS – Countermine System

Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)

Littoral Combat Ships – Mission Modules

Littoral Combat Ships – Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Package

Littoral Combat Ships – Mine Countermeasures Mission Package

Littoral Combat Ships – Surface Warfare Mission Package

Open Systems Architecture (OSA)

SeaRAM Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) Anti-Ship Missile Defense System

Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP)

MK 15 – Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

MK 38 – 25 mm Machine Gun System

MK 46 – 30 mm Gun Weapon System

MK 41 – VLS

MK 45 – 5-inch 54/62 Caliber Guns

MK 53 – Decoy Launching System (Nulka)

MK 60 Griffin Missile System (GMS)

MK 75 – 76 mm/62 Caliber Gun

MK 46 – Torpedo

MK 48 – Heavyweight Torpedo

MK 50 – Torpedo

MK 54 – Torpedo

MK 110 57 mm Gun

US Navy Mines

AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS)

AN/DVS-1 Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis – (COBRA)

AN/SPS-48G

AN/SPS-49(V) Radar Set

AN/SPS-67(V) Radar Set

AN/SPS-73(V)12 Radar Set

AN/SPS-74(V) Radar Set

Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MCM USV)

Missiles

AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range, Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM)

Harpoon Missile

AGM-88 HARM Missile

AGM-114B/K/M Hellfire Missile

AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile

Penguin Anti-Ship Missile

AIM-54 Phoenix Missile

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM)

Seasparrow Missile (RIM-7)

EVOLVED SEASPARROW MISSILE Block 1 (ESSM) (RIM 162D)

AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile

SLAM-ER Missile

Standard Missile

Tomahawk Cruise Missile

Trident II (D5) Missile

Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket ASROC (VLA) Missile

People

Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (The Blue Angels)

Navy Rank Structure

Navy Seabees

Navy Seals

Task Force Simulation and Modeling

Submarines

Attack Submarines – SSN

Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines – SSBN

Guided Missile Submarines – SSGN

Undersea Rescue Command (URC) Assets

Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS)

Large Scale Vehicle – LSV 2

Surface Ships

USS Constitution

Aircraft Carriers – CVN

Amphibious Assault Ships – LHD/LHA(R)

Amphibious Command Ships – LCC

Amphibious Transport Dock – LPD

Cruisers – CG

Destroyers – DDG

Dock Landing Ship – LSD

Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF)

Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC)

Ship to Shore Connector (SSC)

Landing Craft, Mechanized and Utility – LCM/LCU

Littoral Combat Ship Class – LCS

Mark V Special Operations Craft

Mine Countermeasures Ships – MCM

Patrol Coastal Ships – PC

11 Meter Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB)

Riverine Command Boat

Yard Patrol Craft – YP

Mark VI Patrol Boat

Underwater Search and Recovery Equipment

CURV 21 – Remotely Operated Vehicle

Deep Drone 8000 – Remotely Operated Vehicle

Magnum ROV – Remotely Operated Vehicle

MINIROVs – Remotely Operated Vehicle

MR2 HYDROS

Orion – Towed Side Scan Sonar

Shallow Water Intermediate Search System – Towed Side Scan Sonar

Towed Pinger Locator 25

According to Yevgeny Fyodorov, the head of the Committee on Economic Policy and Entrepreneurship of the Russian State Duma, the U.S. is slowly but surely losing unchallenged global economic and political power.

Fyodorov said that: “… but in reality it is the key event in today’s global scenario. With the onset of the global economic crisis, with political and economic turbulence, the APEC is a key event in terms of the demonstration of new vectors of unity of the international community outside the United States.

It is clear that it is not a split – everyone still plays by American rules, but the countries already demonstrate their independence in economic policy. I was there and saw how angry Mrs. Hillary Clinton was when she came from China, where several Chinese leaders – especially those who are to become top officials of China next year – did not even want to meet her. In China, Clinton was told no when she wanted to take on mediator’s functions in resolving China’s territorial disputes with Asian countries.

She also heard no in response to her requirement to set the yuan rate. It is an annual requirement of the United States to China to set the yuan rate for political reasons to pump resources and opportunities from China to the U.S. It is an additional form of tribute from China, which China had to deal with every year for political motives. Nowadays, the U.S. was refused. The world is changing.”

Welcome to the world after is has been reset by Barack Obama and his foreign policy initiatives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to replace the American dollar as the world’s reserve currency with regional currencies. Russia and China have already begun using this system and Putin is actively promoting the idea that other countries should follow along.

America’s enemies are seeking to reformat the world’s entire economic system.  They see the U.S. in the same light “progressive” politicians in America see the U.S.

America’s wealth comes at the expense of less successful countries. America did not build its success, somehow America stole it.

And if that is not enough, Russia sees the weakness of Obama’s America providing them the opportunity to form a world national liberation movement to “free the world from the U.S. occupation”.

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/politics/21-09-2012/122236-russia_apec-0/

Rest assured America, the Islamist world is not the only place where Obama’s foreign policy initiatives have resulted in disaster. What will happen if Obama is re-elected and is “more flexible” with Putin?

America needs an American President. The international/global/UN/brave new world approach is decidedly not working in America’s interests.

Obama’s Reset World

Mark Geragos, the celebrity attorney and CNN analyst, is the co-conspirator cited in a federal indictment handed down Monday against Michael Avenatti, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Avenatti was indicted and arrested in New York on Monday on charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and attempting to extort $20 million from Nike Inc. According to the indictment, Avenatti threatened to publicly disparage Nike if the company did not pay him millions of dollars.

The indictment was announced less than an hour after Avenatti announced that he was holding a press conference on Tuesday about Nike.

According to The Journal, Avenatti’s co-conspirator was Geragos, a lawyer famous for representing clients like Michael Jackson, Jussie Smollett, and Colin Kaepernick.

According to the indictment, Avenatti and the alleged co-conspirator met with lawyers from Nike’s lawyers at the firm Boies Schiller on March 19. The duo said that they would release information damaging to Nike unless the company paid them more than $20 million on top of $1.5 million to a client who Avenatti was representing.

Boies Schiller lawyers agreed to record a follow-up conversation with Avenatti on behalf of federal prosecutors, according to one of The Journal’s sources.

In the March 20 phone call, Avenatti again requested the $1.5 million for his client and also sought a lucrative retainer to conduct an internal investigation of Nike.

Avenatti then threatened that if Nike failed to meet his demands, “I’ll go take ten billion dollars off your client’s market cap.”

“I’m not fucking around,” Avenatti said in the phone call, according to The Journal.

CNN did not return a request for comment about Geragos, who is still listed on CNN’s site as a legal analyst.

Avenatti was a frequent guest on CNN last year. The network put him on air to attack President Trump over Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006.

Daniels issued a statement after Avenatti’s arrest saying that she was “saddened but not shocked” by the news. She suggested that she will release damning information about Avenatti in the near future.

Avenatti was also indicted Monday in California on embezzlement and bank fraud charges related to a coffee business he operated.