President Donald Trump has repeatedly said his war against Iran is intended to prevent Tehran from ever getting a nuclear weapon. But when it comes to core nuclear issues, he risks ending up with a worse deal than the one he abandoned in his first term.
More than 120 organizations issued a travel warning for the United States on Thursday, telling those who want to visit for the FIFA World Cup to use caution amid the Trump administration's heightened immigration enforcement measures.
While the Trump administration has reportedly tried to rein in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s widely unpopular anti-vaccine agenda, the political strategy is not working when it comes to words or actions. Kennedy on Tuesday suggested he would continue to meddle with federal vaccine policy, and news broke Wednesday that his political appointees have discarded scientific data that conflicts with Kennedy's anti-vaccine views.
President Donald Trump's erratic moves aren't helping. read more
Administration officials on Wednesday softened their predictions of an end to the Iran war and its turbulent effects on energy prices.
Then there's this ...
NSA using Anthropic's Mythos despite blacklist
www.axios.com
... The National Security Agency is using Anthropic's most powerful model yet, Mythos Preview, despite top officials at the Department of Defense " which oversees the NSA " insisting the company is a "supply chain risk," two sources tell Axios. ...
A "supply chain risk?"
Yeah, Mythos has raised many concerns. And rightly so.
Then there's this ...
White House and Anthropic hold 'productive' meeting amid fears over Mythos model
www.bbc.com
... The White House has said it has had a "productive and constructive" meeting with the head of artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, which is suing the US Department of Defense.
The meeting comes a week after the firm released its Claude Mythos preview, an AI tool that the company claims can outperform humans at some hacking and cyber-security tasks.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei spoke to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Friday, Axios reports.
A representative of Anthropic did not comment on the meeting, which comes two months after the White House derided the firm as a "radical left, woke company". ...
@#9
Also ...
Closing Time: Assessing the Iranian Threat to the Strait of Hormuz (2008)
www.belfercenter.org
... How might Iran retaliate in the aftermath of a limited Israeli or U.S. strike? The most economically devastating of Iran's potential responses would be closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to open-source order of battle data, as well as relevant analogies from military history and GIS maps, Iran does possess significant littoral warfare capabilities, including mines, antiship cruise missiles, and land-based air defense.
If Iran were able to properly link these capabilities, it could halt or impede traffic in the Strait of Hormuz for a month or more.
U.S. attempts to reopen the waterway likely would escalate rapidly into sustained, large-scale air and naval operations during which Iran could impose significant economic and military costs on the United States"even if Iranian operations were not successful in truly closing the strait.
The aftermath of limited strikes on Iran would be complicated and costly, suggesting needed changes in U.S. force posture and energy policy. ...
@#9 ... They just chose not to close it so long as no one started a war with them. ...
OK I asked a search engine about the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, with a date restriction that ended in 2024.
This article appeared ...
Trump: If Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, it's not going to be closed for long' (June 2019)
www.cnbc.com
... President Donald Trump said Friday that if Iran were to block the Strait of Hormuz, "it's not going to be closed for long," but he did not elaborate on whether the United States had an obligation to keep open the international shipping gateway, which is critical to the oil industry.
"They're not going to be closing [the strait]," Trump said in response to a hypothetical question during a telephone interview on "Fox and Friends."
"They know it, and they've been told in very strong terms. We want to get them back at the table, if they want to go back," he said, referring to the administration's ongoing efforts to start bilateral negotiations on a new nuclear deal with Iran.
"I'm ready when they are, but whenever they're ready, it's OK. And in the meantime, I'm in no rush. I'm in no rush," he added. ...
@#86 ... Since 2016 the SPLC has not designated a single Muslim, Marxist or any left center group as a "hate group". ...
... and your current trolling alias' point is?
From the About page ...
www.splcenter.org
... The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people. ...
So, the main focus seems to be on white supremacy.
No wonder the GOP seems to have issues with the SPLC.
Speaking of Pres Trump bailing out entities ...
There's this ...
Trump Considers Bailing Out His Family's Major Business Partner
newrepublic.com
... The Trump administration is considering a bailout for the United Arab Emirates over economic losses sustained as a result of the U.S. war with Iran.
The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that UAE officials are speaking with the White House about providing financial relief, such as a currency swap, if their economy takes an even bigger hit during the war. Khaled Mohamed Balama, governor of the UAE's central bank, raised the issue in meetings with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week. UAE officials reportedly have said their finances are OK for now, but they could need help in the future.
In an interview with CNBC Monday morning, Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said that while he hadn't spoken directly with Bessent about it, if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and continues to hurt the UAE's economy, the Trump administration would be willing to provide help.
"The UAE has been an incredibly valuable ally throughout this effort, and I am sure that the treasury secretary will make every effort to help them out should that be necessary," Hassett said. ...
@#17 ... I was referring to the effects of Iran closing Hormuz. ...
Apologies. I discerned a different view from the comment.
Thanks for the follow-up.
And, yeah, I agree with your comment.