Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Wars and Rumors of War, 2025. Part 6. The Don't Know Much About History Edition.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Matthew, Chapter 24.

 

When a war breaks out, people say: "It's too stupid; it can't last long." But though a war may well be "too stupid," that doesn't prevent its lasting. Stupidity has a knack of getting its way; as we should see if we were not always so much wrapped up in ourselves.

Albert Camus, The Plague.

And so, we have the spectacle of a dipshit who never served his country trying to negotiate a peace with a former spy, who served his in that capacity, while ignoring the leader of a country that's put up a titanic fight against an invasion for the past two years.

And we're going to do it on American soil that once belonged to the Russian Empire.

What could go wrong?

August 10, 2028

Russo Ukrainian War

Predictable, and quite correct:

KYIV REJECTS CEDING TERRITORY

Ukraine also demanded that Europe be included, which it should be since the United States has ceded its status as a serious nation.

Regarding this meeting, the BBC noted:

Trump announced the 15 August meeting on social media and it was later confirmed by a Kremlin spokesperson, who said the location was "quite logical" given Alaska's relative proximity to Russia.

Nowhere in Alaska is close to Moscow, or Washington D.C. 

August 11, 2025

Israel v. Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”

On Gaza, Wyoming Congressman Harriet Hageman did the following:

Reinforcing House Republicans' Commitment to Israel

On Thursday, I joined Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and 14 of our House Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent, urging his department to review whether Ireland’s proposed boycott of Israel violates U.S. anti-boycott laws.

As you may know, the Irish government recently introduced legislation aimed at prohibiting the import of goods and services originating from territories under Israeli “occupation.” This proposal aligns with the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to economically isolate Israel. These policies not only promote economic discrimination but also introduce legal uncertainty for U.S. companies operating in Ireland.

Under Section 999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Ribicoff Amendment, the Treasury Department is required to maintain a list of countries that condition commercial activity on participation in unsanctioned international boycotts. Countries on this list trigger specific tax reporting requirements and potential penalties for U.S. individuals and businesses involved in certain activities within those jurisdictions.

Our letter urges Secretary Bessent to investigate whether Ireland meets the criteria for inclusion on this list, ensuring that U.S. companies are aware of their legal obligations and protected from unintended exposure. As your representative, I remain firmly committed to combating antisemitism and standing up for our Jewish communities both here at home and around the world.

This came before Israel's announcement that it was going to invade and occupy Gaza. The war in Gaza is demonstrating Yeoman's Fifth Law of History pretty ably.  Whatever a person thinks of the initial Israeli action, Israel can't find a way to end the war.  The current idea is obviously to completely occupy the Gaza Strip and then hope that some Arab nations are willing to turn it over to a non Hamas entity.  There's a fair amount of desperation in that concept.

Also, at this point, Israel has leveled Gaza completely and whatever the original justifications for the invasion were, and Israel had after all sustained a terrible terrorist attack, it's now gone too far.

Russo Ukrainian War

Meet the Press and Face the Nation were interesting on this in that they had guests who seemed tapped into the meeting that will occur this Friday in Anchorage.

Lindsey Graham, who just played golf with Trump, claimed the VP was really tapped into events and reiterated the "exchange of territory" line that Trump had earlier.  Ukraine's ambassador to the US was on Face the Nation and noted that the territory of Ukraine is described in its constitution and nobody has the authority inside the Ukrainian government to negotiate it away.  Basically, that'd be like negotiating Texas away, which while negotiating Texas away might be a good idea, it's illegal.

A fair question, fwiw, is why poor Alaska, with its early Russian heritage, has to suffer through this?


Well, we can hope for the best, and should in fact pray for it.

And who knows, maybe the crush of the press in Anchorage, which frankly isn't that nice of town, will cause them to relocate to remote Nikolaevsk where they can be in seclusion.  Maybe a bored Vladimir Putin will visit the Church and become an Old Believer, and we'll cease to hear from him.

Maybe.

Shoot, maybe Trump will too.  As a serial polygamist with a string if invalid marriages, perhaps he'll live his days out as a monk.  Melania, who after all is an immigrant, can return to her native land.

Maybe.

By the way, I  hope Trump brings this idea up:
Yes, this idea is bat shit crazy, but then, Trump likes bat shit crazy land ideas. First it was Greenland, which doesn't want to be part of the US, but which Trump was threatening with forced annexation.  Then it was Canada. Then it was Gaza.  So why not set his sights on the Kurils?

The Commander Islands are right off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula and there's no earthly way that the Russians would go for this.  That'd be half the fun.  Boris would have to deal with the demanding demented Trump and the rest of us could watch the goofball fun.

Cont:
There will be some changes in land ... Russia has taken some very prime territory. They've taken largely ocean -- in real estate we call it oceanfront property. That's always the most valuable property.

Trump's frame of reference is amazingly narrow.  He looks at everything like a real estate developer. 

cont:

US Domestic Strife.

Trump ordered 800 National Guardsmen to deploy to Washington, D.C., on Monday.  There's utterly no need to do so.

He also threatened other cities with the same.

Trump orders National Guard to deploy to Washington, DC

August 14, 2025

Russo Ukrainian War

Trump is reportedly going to offer Putin a rare earth minerals deal for Russia in Alaska if Russia ends the war in Ukraine.

WTF?

August 15, 2025.

Russo Ukrainian War

A headline in the CST:

Land swap deal with Russia would be illegal in Ukraine

I've already noted that on one of these threads.

By the way, the ICC has an arrest warrant out for Putin. 

This day, of course, will be marked by international war criminal Vlad Putin meeting convicted felon Donald Trump.  In normal times, both of these men would be people that you wouldn't read about.  

Trump has been campaigning for the Nobel Peace Prize even though there's not to his credit to warrant it.  Having promised originally to end the war between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours of being nominated for President, and then as soon as he was elected, he hasn't been able to effect the peace process at all. For that matter, Gaza, where he claimed credit for peace, is about to be re-invaded by Israel.

Trump fancies himself a great negotiator, but all he really is, is a large-scale real estate developer who was born into wealth.  Indeed, it's frequently asserted that while being born into the middle class means that its almost impossible to fall out of it permanently, family wealth of the wealthy simply doesn't last.  Seventy percent of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation and 90 percent of families lose their wealth by the third generation, or so its claimed (there are those who outright dispute this claim).

Trump is, as is often noted, the descendant of German immigrant Frederick Trump, a Lutheran Bavarian who had to leave the country after having returned to it after marrying fellow Bavarian Elizabeth Christ due to his failure to perform mandatory military service.  He became wealthy in the US, wealth inherited by his father, Fred Trump, who built it further, and on to Donald Trump.  Nobody really knows how wealth Donald Trump is, but he demonstrates all the classic traits of those who inherit wealth and then lose it.  Having said that, he's the third generation, and he's wealthy.

And he caters enormously to the wealthy.

He also is deeply amoral and doesn't grasp the world beyond transactions.  He seemingly is unable to understand the world beyond that which means in matters of war and peace, and diplomacy, he's singularly poorly suited to engage in it.  He's likely to approach this whole thing as a land deal.

Indeed, if early reports are correct, he'll likely propose land swaps between Ukraine and Russia, which Ukraine cannot legally do, and they are not even at the table, and he'll grant Russia minerals concessions in Russia.  If Russia agrees, he'll try to force those down on Ukraine.  The minerals concessions, whatever they are, will be disavowed by some future administration.

August 13, 2025

Russo Ukrainian War

Trump files all the way from Washington D.C.

Putin all the way from Moscow.

Conference already over, and we still have a war.

Is there somebody who actually still takes this clown's promises seriously?

Some history (not that Trump would appreciate it).

New Yorker Theodore Roosevelt negotiated the end of the Russo Japanese War, from the US, from August 9, 1905, through August 30, 1905.

But then, Roosevelt was a genuine article.

August 16, 2025

Russo Ukrainian War

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will fly to Washington D.C. to meet with Trump on Monday.

I wonder if J. D. Vance will be available to berate him for not wearing a suit?

August 17, 2025

Russo Ukrainian War

Trump had stated "we're close to a deal", but leakers have provided Putin's demands, which basically amount to a complete surrender.  Ukraine cedes territory, including presently unoccupied territory, and Russia gives a "security guaranty".

That's not going to happen.

What needs to happen is to find a way to bring Russia to its knees, but of course Donny is a Putin fanboy, which makes that difficult.

Military Occupation of Washington D.C.

3 states sending 700 National Guard troops to DC

At least 700 National Guardsmen will be sent to Washington, D.C., nearly doubling the number of troops already activated in the capitol.

Cont:

A Trump tweet would appear to place Trump pathetically fully in the Putin camp today:

Basically this means Ukraine can end the war by surrendering, to the extent its capable of being deciphered.  

If Trump was a drinking man, which he's not, this would look like a drunk tweet.

August 18, 2025.

US Domestic Strife.

Some National Guardsmen in D.C. are going to be issued arms.

South Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia are supplying National Guardsmen to the Trump municipal takeover.

Russo Ukrainian War

Ukraine's president and the heads of various European states will be in D.C. today following Trump's failed meeting with Putin.  It'll be a momentous day, no matter what.

Apparently Giorgia Meloni will be one of those present. A populist herself, but an intelligent one, I suspect she might be the one person in the room capable of calling Trump a dumbass to his face and Trump not being able to handle it.

Meloni with Trump in the tacky room.

Marco Rubio, whose political career is pretty much now deservedly in the toilet, was sent to all the weekend shows to work on spin for the Trump diplomatic failure.

US v. al-Shabab

The US has been carrying out air strikes against al-Shabab in Somalia.

April 19, 2025

And again, the talks were one single day.

Wars don't end with one day talks.

April 20, 2025

Russo Ukrainian War

Donald Trump indicated that U.S. troops won't be sent to Ukraine as part of a post war force guaranteeing the nation's security.

Last edition:

Wars and Rumors of War, 2025. Part 5. Oh oh, it didn't work. Now What? The Pearl Harbor Edition.

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Thursday, March 27, 1975. NVA at Chơn Thành Camp reinforced, Construction of Alaska Pipeline commences.

Construction began on the Alaska Pipeline.

TAPS Throwback, March 27, 1975: First pipe installed at Tonsina River

I remember this well from grade school. The nation was going to build the pipeline and drill our way out of the Oil Crisis of the 70s.  It was a monumental accomplishment, and it changed Alaska forever.

Map showing location of the camp.  This map depicts attacks in the 1972 Easter Offensive.

The NVA 273d Regiment was sent to reinforce the 9th Division for its ongoing assault on Chơn Thành Camp.  Further attacks on that day, however, failed.

Stacy Ferguson, "Fergie", was born.

Linda Ronstadt appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone and was interviewed in the magazine.

Related threads:

Before the Oil. And after it? The economies of Wyoming and Alaska.

Last edition: 

Wednesday, March 26, 1975. A new king.

    Saturday, February 8, 2025

    Thursday, February 8, 1945. Offensives started in the East and West.

    The Red Army launched the Lower Silesian Offensive (Нижне-Силезская наступательная операция)


    The Western Allies launched Operation Veritable.


    Day G. Turner performed the actions that resulted in his being awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.
    He commanded a 9-man squad with the mission of holding a critical flank position. When overwhelming numbers of the enemy attacked under cover of withering artillery, mortar, and rocket fire, he withdrew his squad into a nearby house, determined to defend it to the last man. The enemy attacked again and again and were repulsed with heavy losses. Supported by direct tank fire, they finally gained entrance, but the intrepid sergeant refused to surrender although 5 of his men were wounded and 1 was killed. He boldly flung a can of flaming oil at the first wave of attackers, dispersing them, and fought doggedly from room to room, closing with the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand encounters. He hurled handgrenade for handgrenade, bayoneted 2 fanatical Germans who rushed a doorway he was defending and fought on with the enemy's weapons when his own ammunition was expended. The savage fight raged for 4 hours, and finally, when only 3 men of the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered. Twenty-five prisoners were taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number of wounded were counted. Sgt. Turner's valiant stand will live on as a constant inspiration to his comrades. His heroic, inspiring leadership, his determination and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition of the military service.
    Soviet POWs led by Mikhail Devyatayev escaped from Peenemünde.

    Yalta continued on.  The notes from Communist spy Alger Hiss, part of the US delegation from that day:
    2/8 After the noon meeting of {Tel. to Dept re Assoc. Ns}
    For Sees, Jebb, Gromyko & A H
    met as committee to discuss Un Ns
    Conference procedure. A. H. ex- 2/8
    Plenary
    4.30 p m
    plain ed State Dept views but said Pres.
    had not approved. After lunch before
    plenary session ERS cleared all with Pres.
    & A H told Gromyko & sent word to Jebb
    Pres called on Eden to report for For Mins

    Ed: We met to consider etc. & read his report

    re place Ed. repeated his statement of this morning that next meeting of For Mins be held in Lon & that seemed to meet with a measure of approval

    Ed: Reason for saying those who are members now should be invited was to prevent nations from becoming Un Ns Just to be invited Understands Am. Del. has different view

    St: I have the list of states which declared war on Ger I count this no. into official members of the Ass. Among these are 10 which [Page 783]have no dip. rels with S. U. We will together with them build up world security——

    Pres: I think many of them will be glad to recog & est. dip. rels with S U. Haven’t got round to it yet. In few is very strong Cath. Church influence At same time we recognize most of these who have not exch. dip. rels with Sov Un. have sat with Sov Un at Bretton Woods & other dip. conferences held.

    St.: That’s right but on other hand is very diff. build up world sec. with countries which don’t recog. Sov Un

    Pres: Easiest way to est. complete dip rels. is to invite them. That involves matter of history which should be explained. 3 yrs. ago Actg Sec State Welles told number of these states not nec. to declare on Ger. but should break all rels. So there are 5 or 6 of these which expect to be invited—& are in good standing Sec. of State has embarrassed me further by bringing this to my attention 1 month ago. As a result I sent a letter to the 6 pres. of these 6 reps explaining that if they wanted to be invited they should declare war on either Japan or Ger. Ecuador has declared war but hasn’t had chance sign Un Ns decl. Paraguay will soon. Peru, Venezuela etc (not Chile, soon) Will be embarrassing if not invited. In meantime in past 4 yrs. all of these nations have helped us in waging war because large part of raw materials for munitions of war came from them.

    Result is I’m in a somewhat diff. position

    St: Not discussed today

    Pres: We have phrase Associated Ns meaning nations which have broken rels but haven’t declared war.

    The list of nations which Mr Stett gave to Mr Molotov at lunch today

    St. asked about Argentine

    Pres: Not an assoc. nation

    St: If “associates” come in that would include Argentina. Would include Turkey

    Pres. My idea & it would save my life would be to invite those who have are on the list who have helped us on condition that they declare war.

    St: Before or after they declare war

    Pres: Before, put a time limit, say 1st of March

    St: Agreed

    Church: I am glad to say these nations would be required to declare war before they would be invited to the Conf. Of course I feel like Marshall St that some of them have played a poor part, waiting to see who would win. Now it’s quite safe they would like to come in Will have depressing effect on Ger to realize another batch has come in. [Page 784]Might also have effect on other hostile belligerents to see how whole world is turning ag. them

    Pres: I should like to add one name to list for sake of clarity—newest rep. in world Iceland

    Church: re Eg. HMG feel special resp. On 2 occasions were willing to declare war It was more convenient to us to have them stay formally neutral

    Pres: In other words you’re in same fix I’m in

    Church Also I must say on behalf of Eg that when enemy was only 30 miles from capital Egyptian Army rendered service, guarded bridges, communs & generally was more helpful than if she had declared war & made Cairo subject to air bombardment ∴Feel if Eg. now feels she wanted to declare war she should have the opportunity

    Iceland also rendered very val. services. At a time when the U. S. had not herself had entered the war she admitted Brit & US troops, violated her neutrality in a marked fashion & guarded a life line across the Atlantic. I think those two have certainly a case provided they declare war

    Is it intended any nation which declares war.

    Pres: no, only the Assoc Ns

    (Italy, Ireland—no)

    Church: I shall mention a name which I think will cause universal satisfaction—Turkey T. made an alliance with us before the war at a very dangerous time. But when the war broke out, after it had been going on little while, T’s found their army was not equipped with any of weapons that decide modern battles. But att. has been friendly although they would not take the opportunity which was offered to us yr. ago

    St. says all right if by end of Feb. It will declare war

    Ger. is not yet defeated war & war hardly will terminate by end of Feb.

    Pres: One other case—curious case.

    Den.2 was invaded. Has been under Ger. domination since

    Only one man claimed to represent Den. was the the Dan. Min. in Wash. He could not declare war but he disowned acts of his own govt

    Would be with us 100% if they could

    Church: Have they agreed to the independence of Iceland?

    I do not think it is of very great importance. I think Mar & Pres are quite right in letting any one come to the party who declares war by end of month

    [Page 785]
    St & Denmark could wait

    Pres Yes

    Church: She would have a perfect right to come if she is able to speak

    Pres Amend Un Ns & also those of assoc. powers & T. who declare war by Mar 1

    Church All who declare war

    Ed. Un Ns as they exist on the 1st of Mar.

    Church:

    Pres Ger. or Japan

    Common enemy

    Mol Would it not facilitate position of Sov. Reps if they would sign Decl. of Un Ns before 1st of Mar.

    Pres I think its easier to take the list we’ve got. San Marino & Andorra might sign, nations like that

    Church. What is the position

    St: But T is not fighting

    Pres: read list of Assoc. Ns & T only if they declare war

    Mol: If Uk & Byelo-R sign decl before 1st of Mar.

    Pres. That had been settled in this formula We are prepared to support them.

    St. I propose to name the Reps, which would be invited: Uk & Byelo-R. To call them by name in this protocol and secondly I propose that they should sign the Decl of Un Ns before 1st of Mar. Change the protocol

    Church Delay invitations to two states of Sov. Un till we are all met If so many new ones are to be brought in now be confusing

    St: I have point out that’s not quite logical. 3 great powers agree to seat White R & Uk But some might say they haven’t signed

    Church: Two R states should be treated same as other late arrivals

    St. I wouldn’t like to embarrass Pres. What is his difficulty. I might withdraw my proposal

    Pres: Only technical. We have been discussing admitting other people. Uk & Wh R are not other people they are here already. We & UK will support it. We change SU from 1 vote to 3 right here. Why 3, why not 4, 5, 6?

    St. Withdrew his request. But names of the two republics should be in the report

    Poland
    " "The Dirty Dozen" - the last remaining members of the original 161st Regt. Combat Team, 25th Inf. in San Manuel, Luzon, P.I. 8 February, 1945. 25th Infantry Division."

    The  Alaskan Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 passed thanks to the efforts of Tlingit Elizabeth Peratrovich.

    Last edition:

    Tuesday, February 6, 1945. False hopes at Manila.

    Saturday, February 1, 2025

    Sunday, February 1, 1925. Balto, the future King Zog, wild party in Laramie.

    The final leg of the serum run began with Gunnar Kaasen setting out with lead dog Balto.  The Norwegian born Kaasen is the only musher who became famous due to the event.

    The story made the first page of the Tribune:


    A party in Laramie had apparently gotten out of control.


    Ahmed Zog became the first President of Albania. He'd later be its first king. . . sort of a cautionary tale there.

    Irish President W. T. Cosgrave appealed to the United States for food aid as the country's potato crop had been severely reduced due to excess rain.

    Last edition:

    Saturday, January 31, 1925. Leonhard Seppala and Togo.

    Friday, January 31, 2025

    Saturday, January 31, 1925. Leonhard Seppala and Togo.

    The longest part of the Serum Run was undertaken by Leonhard Seppala with lead dog Togo.  They ran through the dark across the dangerous ice of Norton Sound.

    Seppala was Kven, a group related to the Lapps.  He's a major figure in the history of the Siberian Husky dog breed.

    The Saturday magazines were out.

    A few interesting adds, the first for a range with a clock.

    And the second for White Truck's 25th anniversary.

    Of course, the humor magazine Judge was out as well.

    Last edition:

    Thursday, January 30, 2025

    Friday, January 30, 1925. Antitoxin runs out in Nome.

    Diphtheria antitoxin ran out in Nome. The serum run had reached Kaltag.

    Turkey exiled Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Constantine VI to Greece

    The Khost Rebellion in Afghanistan ended with the reign of King Amanullah Khan intact.

    A national news media frenzy started when Cave explorer Floyd Collins became trapped in Sand Cave, Kentucky.  The story went on for days, but did not conclude happily.

    High winds blew a train off of a viaduct in County Donegal, Ireland, killing four people.

    Last edition:

    Thursday, January 29, 1925. 裁軍 and Flapper Fanny.

    Monday, January 27, 2025

    Tuesday, January 27, 1925. The 1925 Serum Run.

    Two mushers and 150 dogs began the relay transportation of diphtheria antitoxin to the remote town of Nome, Alaska

    Gunnar Kaasen with his lead dog Balto.

    The event became the basis of the Iditarod sled dog race.

    Leonhard Seppala with his dogs, lead dog, Togo, on the far left.  Togo was the lead dog in the most dangerous portions of the trial.

    The run saved numerous lives.  The total number of people who died in the diphtheria outbreak is unknown.

    The January Junta was established in Chile to restore Arturo Alessandrio to power.

    Wednesday, January 22, 2025

    Thursday, January 22, 1925. An emergency in Alaska and Life Magazine's Boob Issue.

    Dr. Curtis Welch, Nome Alaska's only physician, sent a radio telegram via the U.S. Army Signal Corps alerting Alaska of a diphtheria outbreak.  A second one was sent to the U.S. Public Health Service warning of the desperate need for antitoxin.


    It didn't quite mean the same thing as it commonly means now.  It mean "Boob" as in a stupid person.  The other meaning, according to an on line etymology dictionary dates back to 1929, although it was surely around earlier.

    FWIW, recall this meaning still being relatively common amongst older people in the 70s, but even then it was a bit disconcerting when used by them if you were younger.

    Last edition:

    Tuesday, January 20, 1925. The Soviet–Japanese Basic Convention