SOTU 2023: Running Summary

2023 Running Summary is a new addition to IntelRag.com. Past and present selected observations considered important will be summarized. The summary is a standing post that will be updated throughout the year. Each year, the current copy of the post will be archived and become the basis for the next year’s post. Tenth Anniversary of the 2012 Future Forecast.

Change in Observation Reporting

IntelRag (.COM and .NET) will continue to post observations of events and issues. However, as Howard K. Smith discovered, readers and listeners frequently lack the background and insight to evaluate the news. Therefore, Mr. Smith began citing newsworthy events and presented his interpretation of the meaning of the news. Refer to the “Mask of Sanity” posting.

IntelRag (.COM and .NET) will, in addition to citing newsworthy observations, begin the process of offering an analysis in individual postings where appropriate, and in the 2023 Running Summary.

New Support Strategies and Tactics

IntelRag (.COM and .NET) will initiate selected media sources for dissemination of the Change in Observation Reporting. Over time, these may include Twitter, Truth Social and Facebook.

03/20/2023: The future horizon may indicate international events affecting the U.S. are driven by root causes to manipulate financial markets for international, organizational and personal gain.

If so, this may open the door and expose participation by domestic and international interests in events against the U.S.? Refer to the “SOTU 2023: International Events” posting.

If the 9/11 report has the same lack of integrity as charges against President Trump by fifty security experts, this should be cause for concern.

Background I: Notes, Terms and Examples

  • Links in this posting open additional postings or external references for review of the subject listed. Close opened postings or references to return to this posting.
  • Issues are unsettled matters of a long-term nature where there is disagreement on recognition of the issues or the manner in which to resolve them.
  • Events are occurrences of a negative or positive nature noteworthy of recognition at the time of occurrence.
  • COVID-19 is an example of a negative event in which millions have died. COVID-19 has become a long-term issue in that there is disagreement on the origin of the disease, and the proper method to resolve the issue.

Background II: Observations Derived from Horizon Scanning:

  • Subjective observations may be factual however, researchers may partially agree or disagree with observations presented. Typically used in social sciences.
  • Objective observations are derived from facts and conditions. Typically used in physical sciences and engineering.

Background III: Research Methods

Evaluating a single subject may be simple, while linking the effects of multiple subjects can become highly complex. Typical methods used singularly or in combination include:

Background IV: Horizon Scanning

Techniques listed in the research category will be applied:

SOTU 2023 Running Summary:

Apply objective logic and provide a forecast for future years based on past and present observations. Where the past and present meet the future.

Forward I: Summary of War and Terrorism Issues and Events

Issues summarized in this post are listed in the War and Terrorism category. The summary will evaluate actions taken or not taken, and where responsibility is assigned. Based on outcome of past and present issues, the probability of future events will be presented. Summaries of Issues and Events will develop over an extended time.

2017 SOTU Part IV: National Defense, Security and Immigration establishes the basis for the 2022 Summary. The Oath of Office of the President of the United States and all members of Congress are plainly stated. Additionally, employees, lobbyists, contractors and virtually any position paid for by the citizens of the United States are covered by a similar Oath of Office requirement.

Forward II: Presidents

Presidents of the United States in chronological order. Entries contain links to separate pages with historical information for each president. (Wikipedia) (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Historical rankings of the Presidents of the United States are debatable. Surveys conducted by several independent organizations are listed. The lists are somewhat subjective in nature with different poll results provided.

List of wars involving the United States: There are 105 wars on the list, 4 of which are ongoing. The list is categorized as follows: conflicts, allies, opponents, results, and presidents at the time of conflicts. Wars listed on the above link provide a view of seemingly constant military actions. Consult the following list links for major conflicts. The periods listed may have intervals in conflict.

Major 20th and 21st Century Wars:

World War I: 1914-1918- President, Woodrow Wilson – Democrat

World War II: 1939-1945 – Presidents, Franklin D. RooseveltHarry S. Truman – Democrat

Korean War: 1950-1953 – Presidents, Harry S. Truman – Democrat, Dwight D. Eisenhower – Republican

Vietnam War: 1955-1975 – Presidents, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson – Democrat, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford – Republican

Gulf War: 1990-1991 – George H.W. Bush – Republican

Iraqi No-Fly Zone Operations: 1991-2002 – Presidents, George H.W. Bush– Republican, Bill Clinton – Democrat

Iraq War: 2003-2011 – Presidents, George W. Bush – Republican, Barack Obama – Democrat

Afghanistan War: 2002-2021 – Presidents, George W. Bush, Donald Trump – Republican, Barack Obama, Joe Biden – Democrat

Note: Wars listed in the above references were essentially armed conflict between adversaries. There appears to be a change in methods from direct armed conflict to indirect confrontation and third-party players as listed in the Issue and Event Summaries below.

Of significant concern is the inability to hold aggressors responsible. Conducting business as usual with aggressors does not appear to have consequences. Individuals and groups appear to be practicing profiteering without loyalty to their home country.

Forward III: International Conflict

The Indochina War in which North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam is referred to as the Vietnam War. The United States in support of South Vietnam were confronted by the militaries of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), and Russia, which were both in support of North Vietnam. Prior to the Indochina War, the United States military were also involved in confrontation with the PRC and Russia when North Korea invaded South Korea.

The history of conflict with the PRC and Russia is longstanding and founded in the doctrine of communism and socialism. Observations have demonstrated that taking a liberal, non-defensive posture when confronting or negotiating with followers of the communist or socialist doctrine will not result in satisfactory outcomes.

Communism is a political, social, and economic ideology that advocates the replacement of private ownership and profit-based economies with a classless economic system.

Socialism refers to democratic control of recourses where everything is owned or controlled by the state as opposed to private ownership of resources. List of socialist states.  (communist)

Islam is a religious system based mostly in the Middle East with the duty to struggle to gain resources and territory. Islam can involve aggressive behavior and the desire for conquest through Jihad. Modern conflicts.

Democracy is a system of government by the eligible population through elected representatives, and which embraces Capitalism where a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.

Forward IV: Theoretical Discussion

YouTube: Firing Line video of September 10, 1995, with William F. Buckley Jr. and Henry Kissinger outline and define past posture of international issues over a period of thirty years (1960s-1990s). It seems that Communist, Socialist, and Islamic actor states have changed little since that period and may predict continuation of conflict into the foreseeable future.

Henry Kissinger expressed a point of view that it may be possible to negotiate and become involved in commerce with adversarial states given a strong stance and military were maintained. The cautious optimism expressed by Henry Kissinger may have been the catalyst that many government, financial, consulting, and commercial organizations needed to venture into the abyss with the PRC and other self-proclaimed unfriendly states.

Moving commerce in sourcing goods and services from the domestic economy of the U.S. and other democratic nations to unfriendly states has resulted in a loss of citizen and U.S. national wealth, and a significant increase in national debt. Refer to: U.S. Economy and International Trade, and currently to the Future Forecast Background for 2022-2028.

Forward V: Profiteering

Frequently comments in the media address the significant wealth generated by government insiders trading and investing in stocks. The basis for the comments appears to be advance knowledge of government actions affecting the market. Offshoring of U.S. manufacturing and services may have presented an opportunity that could not be resisted. This may be improper conduct and violation of the Oath of Office. The total sum of profits may not be significant, however, may demonstrate malfeasance. U.S. Politician Stock Trading.

Of greater concern may be questionable activities between members of the government, financial, consulting and commercial organizations using national positions to act as agents of foreign governments and entities. Although the U.S. government has a required budget reporting system, it is not a financial accounting system of annual budget expenditures. It is estimated that annual unaccounted funds may average twenty-eight percent (28%). With $6 Trillion budgeted for Fiscal Year 2023, the unaccounted value could be $1.68 Trillion.

Is profiteering indicated by acts performed for the benefit of self-proclaimed adversaries of the United States, acting as an agent on behalf of an enemy state?

Explosive New Connections? The Biden Foreign Agent Scandal – The Dan Bongino Show on rumble, may expose the roots of the tree as addressed in the Mask of Sanity.

2023 Running Summaries Continued

The history of war and terrorism is a continuous series of events and issues. Regardless of the location, today’s events and issues are most often affected by international influences based in Communism, Socialism and Islam. Leaders of countries based on these beliefs are most often concerned with personal power and conquest. Citizens of the countries are generally peaceful and subject to the dictatorial and repressive regimes.

Interim observation indicates, over time, worldwide warfare has been underway for decades and is increasing in severity. Self-described enemies of democracy appear to be anxious and fearless in their desire for escalation leading to major incursions.

Domestic criminal organizations appear to be expanding at a rapid rate impacted by loss of international control of immigration. This may become irreversible affecting even the supporters of decreased law enforcement.

SOTU 2023: Event and Issue Summaries:

Consult the Recent Post links on the righthand task bar for the following supplementary research posts.

SOTU 2023: Domestic Events

SOTU 2023: International Events

SOTU 2023: Domestic Issues

SOTU 2023: International Issues

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SOTU 2023: Domestic Events

Observations of past and present events. Narratives are not intended to indicate an order of significance. Depending on the individual reviewer or organization, summaries may have a different order of importance. In time each of the items below will be expanded.

(a). U.S. Capital Attack – On January 6, 2021, President Trump claimed the election had been stolen and mounted legal challenges in several states that he had lost. More than 2,000 entered the capital, many of whom occupied, vandalized, looted, and assaulted Capitol Police. Wikipedia.

(b). Congressional Baseball Game – On June 14, 2017, the FBI, federal, state, and local law enforcement partner agencies investigated a shooting at the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park. The mass shooting occurred during a practice session for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Virginia. Wikipedia.

(c). San Bernadino – On December 2, 2015, a terrorist attack consisting of a mass shooting and an attempted bombing occurred at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernadino, California. ATF conducted traces on the weapons and has determined that they were purchased by the shooter from federal firearms licensees. No evidence that the weapons were purchased unlawfully.

(d). Fort Hood – On April 2, 2014, a mass shooting spree was perpetrated at several locations on the Fort Hood military base near Killeen, Texas. Four people, including the gunman, were killed while14 additional people were injured.

(e). Boston Marathon Bombing – On April 15, 2013, two terrorists planted two homemade pressure cooker bombs which detonated near the finish line of the race, killing three people and injuring hundreds of others, including 17 who lost limbs. The attack took place during the annual race.

(f). Fort Hood – On November 5, 2009, a mass shooting took place. A U.S. Army major and psychiatrist, fatally shot 13 people and injured more than 30 others. It was the deadliest mass shooting on an American military base.

(g). Oklahoma City Bombing – On April 19, 1995, perpetrated by two anti-extremists, killed at least 168 people, injured more than 680 others, and destroyed more than one-third of the building, which had to be demolished. The blast destroyed or damaged 324 other buildings within a 16-block radius. Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building,

SOTU 2023: International Events

Observations of past and present events. Narratives are not intended to indicate an order of significance. Depending on the individual reviewer or organization, summaries may have a different order of importance. In time each of the items below will be expanded.

(a). New York Twin Towers 9/11. Attorney General John Ashcroft blames Clinton-era FBI, CIA

(b). War in Ukraine.

(c). Afghan War.

(d). Beirut Barracks Bombings.

(e). Pam Am Flight 103.

(f). EgyptAir Flight 990.

(g). World Trade Center.

Objective opinions regarding issues and events above are a result of current horizon scanning.

SOTU 2023: Domestic Issues

Observations of past and present long-term issues. Narratives are not intended to indicate an order of significance. Depending on the individual reviewer or organization, summaries may have a different order of importance. In time each of the items below will be expanded.

(a). Border Security: Homeland Security’s mission is to protect U.S. borders from the illegal movement of weapons, drugs, contraband, and people, while promoting lawful entry and exit. Key findings about U.S. immigrants are rapidly becoming outdated. Immigration appears to be used as a political issue by all sides without any indication of rectification.

The failure of economic science is a main contributor to the problem. To be addressed under the Issue Summary for the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

(b). FBI Cyber Strategy: Security is a complex and rapidly changing subject. In essence, it is a fulltime 7/24 function to safeguard citizens, businesses and government from becoming victims. Consult their website for current information and how to report cyber-crime. Additionally, the link Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency is applicable. Cyber Crime – Credit Cards and Fraud.

(c). Bureau of Economic Analysis; BEA provides current data on the status of the economy, which may seem to the general reader, to be an obscure mystery of how the economy functions. Economics is a highly complex issue. There are thousands of economists at work in government, business and academia. The following is a very limited explanation of the topic.

Fundamentally, economists look for, and recommend, the least cost approach to producing products and providing services. In that regard, automation and robotics have proven to be more efficient than labor. That may appear to provide least cost, and therefore lower prices for the consumer, be they individuals, organizations or the government.

The least product and service cost approach is a fallacy and has led to a negative trade balance with more dollar value of products and services imported than exported. The negative trade balance is over $17 Trillion and is a main cost driver of the higher national debt. It does not consider cost impacts to the environment, lost labor income, taxes and fees not paid as a result of automation.

The loss of taxes and fees also drive the need to borrow to upgrade the infrastructure (roads, railroads, waterways, bridges, airports . . . etc.). It has been suggested that automation in the form of robotics should be taxed to partially make up for the loss of taxes and fees.

In reality, the efficiencies of automation create a REAL excess in the labor market. This excess can be expressed in terms of lower income service sector jobs.

Still, the open border concept is importing millions of lower skilled workers. The result of this combination of automation, lower skilled and lower paying service jobs, and increase in availably of workers as a result of excessive immigration, is leading to increased homeless and immigrants seeking government support, and eventually higher taxes to the citizens.

The real picture of unbalanced trade with foreign markets will, over time, result in imported products and services to effectively be more expensive than domestic production.

Profiteering by members of congress, business and finance markets indicate the driver of these issues may be acts performed for the benefit of self-proclaimed adversaries of the United States. In that event, they may have unintentionally acted as agents on behalf of an enemy state.

However, the result of highly unbalanced international trade is a complex issue which appears to be deeply rooted and leading to aggression toward the United States and other democratic nations via profits earned through excessive exports to these markets.

(d). Education – The Nation’s Report Card Data indicate outcomes in mathematics and reading for grades 4 and 8 continues to decrease. Although assessment of effectiveness of distance education ranked high, it reflects teacher confidence in their mastery of the process, not student outcomes.

U.S. Department of Education USA Facts must be evaluated carefully. Student-to-teacher ratios have decreased from 26.89 students per teacher in 1956, to 15.9 students per teacher in 2020. However, mathematics and reading scores are lower in 2020 than they were in 1956, averaging around 40 percent of expected outcomes. This situation existed prior to COVID-19.

Comparison of U.S. students to international outcomes places U.S. students in the middle-of-the-pack, nearly thirty (30) points behind Chinese students which rank highest on test outcomes. Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Day: Global Lessons for the U.S. Education System and Economy: Published on Dec 8, 2018.

It appears that with offshoring of manufacturing, the U.S. has become a consumer-focused, service sector market, while China is a design, engineering and manufacturing environment.

(e). Law and Order – U.S. Department of Justice. The average citizen and many in government are unaware of the responsibilities of the department. The organization structure is quite cumbersome. The expectation created is that the Attorney General is knowledgeable of everything that takes place, whenever and wherever it occurs.

The legal system has ridged procedures when it comes to decisions and following actions. It seems somehow unusual that institutions of higher learning considered dropping courses on the constitution or dropping the subject to the status of an elective course.

As a result, high school and college students increasingly demonstrate failure to adhere to the rule of law. The point is that the intensity of criminal activity of every definition is increasing. As before, the data require close scrutiny. When group violence of all kinds is ignored, the data in the above references are not included that data. Effectiveness of the legal system reflects the failure of the education system. Accountability appears to be too difficult to address. FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR).

SOTU 2023: International Issues

Observations of past and present long-term issues. Narratives are not intended to indicate an order of significance. Depending on the individual reviewer or organization, summaries may have a different order of importance. In time each of the items below will be expanded.

(a). Biological Warfare – China COVID-19.

(b). Chemical Warfare – China illicit fentanyl imported via Mexico.

(c). Cyber Warfare – Nation States Cyber Threats – China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. International Cyber Security and the Department of Justice Disruptive Technology Strike Force.

(d). Nuclear War ThreatChina, Russia, North Korea, Iran – Is the question if/or when?

(e). Trade Wars – What seems positive, may be a negative. New Rules – Economics for Politicians.

(f). Undocumented Immigration – DACA Benefits and Restrictions.

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Mask of Sanity

Nonparticipant observation research is a neutral horizon scanning technique. The researcher does not participate in the activity being observed and does not interact with the subject(s) or activity.[1] The researcher maintains a neutral position during the observation. That is to say, the researcher does not have an opinion, only records or reports on the actions under observation.

Observations may reveal beliefs expressed by participants, and direction of movement regarding current or prior norms.[2]

Occasionally cultural, personal, national and international belief systems evolve. This change may be slow, and the direction of change may be undeterminable. However, there are questions regarding how and why a change in neutral position is pursued.

Moving Forward I: Analysis

The following video demonstrates the application of horizon scanning and nonparticipant observation practiced by an award-winning newscaster over a period of thirty-five years. Many concerns regarding the media are not so different from those experienced today.

Listen carefully. Later in his career, Howard K. Smith found it necessary to begin offering analysis of observations. Initially the network did not agree with this approach. Eventually analysis of the news became accepted and resulted in receiving several awards.

Today, analysis has become a major part of news presentations. Over the past two decades, analysis has evolved into marketing. Freedom of expression as exercised by the media seems to use events and ideas as the platform for expressing opinions to sway the public in the direction paid for by their sponsors and donors.

Whereas the video presentation refers to the news of the day as a thirty-minute segment, today’s news is on a 7/24 continual cycle with the script passed from one hour to the next with different newscasters . . . marketing performers.

As influence from sponsors and donors increases, politicians and the news media may find themselves aligning with and supporting issues that benefit them in turn for increasing personal financial rewards.

The video presentation demonstrates the progressive change in norms from reporting observations to analyzing observations, and finally promoting opinions on news items of interest to benefit a hidden objective. This becomes the Mask of Sanity.

Moving Forward II: Identifying the Process

Nonparticipatory observation researchers may find it difficult to remain neutral. Recall the objective is to note and report observations, not indicate the intent of actions observed. However, what is observed can be difficult to identify. There may be a transformation occurring where acceptable norms will be redefined, possibly in response to influences outside of the constitutional intent.

Cleckley’s Mask of Sanity may be occurring where what is seen is provided for the observer and public but does not show the process occurring or coordinating relationships in the background. This practice is defined as Psychopathy, or a psychopath personality which is a mix of superficial charm, poor judgment, and failure to learn from experience.

The following Mask of Sanity issues continue while congress seems impudent in providing solutions. It appears what occurs in the background may benefit members of congress and other influencers, while the public sees a staged presentation prepared specifically for them. The educational system appears to be in lockstep with this process.

It is said that most of the public business conducted by congress occurs during luncheon sessions. Thanks to YouTube and CNN here is a purported example of such sessions.

The video is an opportunity for viewers to perform nonparticipative observation research of possible background issues. In a non-opinion manner, record your unbiased observations of the content.

Moving Forward III: Potential Issues

The background and process patterns observed may establish a future forecasting model based on the possible continuation of activities by (1) marketing performers and the effect of the (2) Mask of Sanity.

The metaphor of a tree is helpful in defining political processes internal and external to the United States, and outcomes posted in the War and Terrorism category. The significant number of issues listed in the posts will not be repeated here. Review them to understand the basis for the following discussion.

  • Roots of the tree represent the background issues of the Mask of Sanity. They are the unseen cause of the observable issues.
  • Trunk of the tree represents the media newscasters and marketing performers that for most, but not all media sources, convey the intended interpretation of the issues for the benefit their supporters and donors.
  • Branches and leaves are the issues outside the of mask which the general public observes. It is the task of the media members of the trunk to persuade or misdirect viewers to their intended interpretation.

Putting it in short terms, roots are the cause, the trunk is the spin, and branches and leaves are the effect.

Two of the top branch and leaves issues that fit into the metaphor of the tree are immigration and drugs. The following video represents the spin of the trunk.

Viewers can easily spot the branches and leaves. It is the function of the White House briefing to put the spin on the issues and misdirect responsibility elsewhere.

The question still arises, “where are the roots of the trees” causing the issues?

Summary: Seeking the Root Causes

Until recently, observers found it difficult to identify the cause of historical issues which are significant enough in scope to be of national and international concern. The reason for this appears to be the shielding of root causes by the previously identified “marketing performers” of most, but not all of the media and the White House.

Citizens of all countries do not have access to background sources (the roots) initiating the issues. A few current observable issues of a significant nature are:

The KGB vs. CIA: World-Class Spies? Provides a look behind issues over many years. Few of today’s citizens are aware of the documented occurrences. What was an international concern has now become a national concern in the tactics used. 1,000-page document alleges politicization of FBI and DOJ.

The above issues are treated as routine occurrences in the media. Calls for responses to the issues are not immediate or significant. News reporting has become a 7/24 presentation by marketing performers.

Citizens will have to wait-out government healing itself. The ball of yarn is unwinding, and future revelations may be very serious.

Prior Notes:

[1]. Observation research can be initiated and continued when the researcher views unplanned occurrences of potential significance.

[2]. Control or regulate proper and acceptable behavior.

Law, Order, and National Security

This post was suspended in response to the purportedly broad and high-level revelations of malfeasance committed before, during and after the nationwide election of 2020.

Reinstating this post was to occur when stability returned to the political scene. However, it must be acknowledged that the current period is unstable and clearly defines the hierarchy and the breadth of malfeasance.

Therefore, in keeping with the nonparticipative observation research methodology, research items address posts in the War and Terrorism category. Their effect on law, order, and national security are indicated. (Source: Future Forecast for 2022-2028).

Notes: There are at least two terms that are inferred from the following research.

(1). Sphere of influence is where a territorial area within which the political influence or the interests of one nation are held to be more or less paramount. The question raised here is are political actions by U.S. elected representatives receiving favors from enemies of the U.S. to support activities beneficial to the enemy nation?

Refer to the Summary: War and Terrorism post in the righthand navbar. 

(2). Slippery Slope is a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences. The question raised here is did politicians increasingly accept bribes believing enriching themselves is no cause for alarm?

(3). Both (1) and (2) above can also be implicated in actions at the internal U.S. level.

The Question: Where does responsibility for acknowledging and correcting the following reside? Refer to Note (4) at end of the page.

The following issues will be individually referenced and amplified.

  • Prosecutors are failing to protect the community by operating the legal system as a turnstile at a train station . . . in and out to commit more criminal acts at will. NEW YORK POST
  • Throwing the election system out the window saying it is prejudice when it requires personal identification. VOTE.ORG
  • Opening the border to allow free movement of drugs which are destroying communities and leading to higher levels of crime. Senate RPC
  • Turning the United States into a market satellite of Communist China. Council on Foreign Relations
  • Economic science failure. The assumption that least cost results in the best decision is an error in logic. Does not take into consideration the cost of lost jobs, factories, degraded infrastructure and more, as a result of unbalanced trade. Investopedia -1  and 2
  • The accumulated trade deficit from imports for the period of 1992-2021 exceeds $17 trillion dollars. Status of the U.S. EconomyWITA
  • Funding for war and terrorism activities pursued by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Islamic States are primarily acquired by trade deficits, illegal activities in drugs, human trafficking and slave labor. RAND Corporation
  • Theft of trade secrets of the U.S. via digital communications and within domestic industry and academic organizations. National Law Review
  • Budget outlays exceed tax and fee revenues by $2 trillion a year and are increasing at an increasing rate. Economists would use the argument contained in the reference as substation of their prediction that the debt is not that significant. However, yearly interest payments exceed, the total cost of education for all K-12. That may be long-term delirium setting in.   the balance
  • The Department of Defense indicates the U.S. Military may be degraded and undermanned and cannot effectively support a worldwide posture. NBC NewsTask & Purpose
  • The education system does not provide well educated graduates. The U.S. is rated in (30th) place worldwide in math, science, and the social sciences. China ranks in first (1st) place. Pew Research Center
  • Socialist approach to Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools is counter to equality. Freedom’s Forge America
  • Parents concerns that the U.S. government controls parents and students is a reversion to a totalitarian state where children belong to the state. ThoughtCo
  • U.S. education, research, and technology organizations depend on graduates from India. Some from self-declared enemy countries above that attended school in India. Reason for this appears to be the structure of education systems outside the U.S. with a focus on math and science. Market Realist
  • On average U.S. schools and colleges are not as intensive, and overall educators are not as qualified. Educators in many competitive countries continually upgrade competencies by advancing to higher levels of instruction throughout their careers.
  • U.S. corporations depend on graduates from foreign adversaries for senior management positions. Market Realist
  • Employment in manufacturing, nondurable and durable goods has diminished significantly since 1979.
  • U.S. Merchant Fleet has dropped from 16.9% of the World Fleet to .4% since 1965.

Note (4). Typically, higher order issue(s) serve as an umbrella under which the above may reside, and be the cause of the above.

Attempts to shield revelation of higher order issues may drive a continuous series of distractions.

Summary of War and Terrorism

Postings within this category indicate that war and terrorism are a combined set of activities.

War is generally considered to be an armed conflict between at least two independent nations. However, the larger the conflict, the more nations that may become involved.

Terrorism is generally considered to be actions taken to intimidate or harm citizens of one nation by another nation. This may also include activities within a nation such as organized riots, looting, burning, robbery and more.

The first stage of conflict appears to be terrorism. When terrorism does not produce the desired results, war may follow.

Contents of postings speak for themselves and will not be repeated here.

Key Points:

  1. Funding for war and terrorism activities pursued by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Islamic States are primarily acquired by trade deficits of the free world.
  2. The U.S. alone has accumulated a $17 trillion trade deficit for the period of 1992-2021.
  3. Significant illegal activities in drugs, human trafficking and slave labor by countries identified in (1) above, also fund war and terrorism.
  4. The free world is funding the economies, building cities, and developing militaries of self-proclaimed enemies.
  5. Some members of congress, the administration, and international business, appear to have created this situation for personal profit, possibly through the misuse or misdirection of federal funds, leaving the citizens with a massive debt.
  6. The loss of life is in the millions, and government by failure to stop or prevent indirect funding of illegal activities is essentially aiding them and may be considered complicit in the crimes.
  7. In many respects, the U.S. is dependent on defensive material support from organizations listed in (1) above. This is a result of offshoring manufacturing to the least cost market. Doing so significantly diminishes the ability to be self-sustaining in military efforts.
  8. The education system does not provide well educated graduates. As a result, the U.S. is rated in the middle of the pack at around thirtieth (30th) place worldwide in math, science, and the social sciences. China ranks in first (1st) place.
  9. U.S. education, research, and technology organizations depend on graduates from countries listed in number one (1) above. Reason for this appears to be the structure of education systems outside the U.S. with a focus on math and science.
  10. Theft of trade secrets by members of (1) above occurs externally to the U.S. via digital communications and within domestic industry and academic organizations.
  11. On average U.S. schools and colleges are not as intensive, and overall educators are not as qualified. Educators in many competitive countries continually upgrade competencies by advancing to higher levels of instruction throughout their careers.
  12. Therefore, many of U.S. corporations depend on graduates from foreign adversaries to lead research and development activities and advance to senior management positions.

Refer to the following “intelrag postings” which demonstrate the effects of Key Points identified above:

  • International Cyber Security: Worldwide roadmap of an interconnected system of universities specializing in computer science and cyber security developed in India, sponsored by UNESCO and funded by the USSR.
  • Status of the U.S. Economy: Data indicate much of the $30+ trillion national debt is, in fact, an outcome of taking a global perspective, where China and other countries have not reciprocated. A case could be made this is also funding Chinese and Russian aggression.
  • SOTU Backdrop Part VIII – Education: Education in the future must be in the real-world so students can experience at the pace of change, not locked in a classroom environment where learning is static. Students must learn advanced concepts earlier.

Read the postings in the War and Terrorism category for an in-depth understanding.

Postings are subject to update.

End of Posting

War and Terrorism

The United States is a Democracy with private ownership or control of property. Nations which are current aggressors towards the U.S. and democratic governments typically practice a form of Socialism, Communism, and Islam, which establish public (state) ownership or control of property.

Economics of War:

World War I, $334 billion was spent fighting the enemy. World War II, $4.1 trillion was spent. The disparity in spending is partially explained by the fact that U.S. was actively engaged in fighting during the final 4 years of WW II.

War on Terrorism, $1.5 to $1.7 trillion was spent between 2001 and 2014, but the War on Terrorism is stretched out over a much longer period of time.

Nearly 20 years after the United States invasion of Afghanistan, the cost of global war on terror stands at $8 trillion.

The number of men and women deployed to fight these wars during the same three periods was 4.7M, 12.2M, and 2.5M, respectively.

World War I: Began on 28 July 1914 and ended on 11 November 1918. Referred to by contemporaries as the “Great War”, its belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fighting also expanding into the Middle EastAfrica, and parts of Asia. One of the deadliest conflicts in history, an estimated 9 million people were killed in combat, while over 5 million civilians died from military occupation, bombardment, hunger, and disease.

World War II: A global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world’s countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers. In a total war directly involving more than 100 million personnel from more than 30 countries, the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources.

Korean War: Fought between North Korea and South Korea from 1950 to 1953. The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following clashes along the border and rebellions in South Korea. North Korea was supported by China and the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported by the United Nations, principally the United States. The fighting ended with an armistice on 27 July 1953.

Vietnam War: A conflict in VietnamLaos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet UnionChina, and other communist allies. South Vietnam was supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies. The war is widely considered to be a Cold War-era proxy war. It lasted almost 20 years, with direct U.S. involvement ending in 1973.

Iraq War: A protracted armed conflict in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 that began with the invasion of Iraq by the United States–led coalition which overthrew the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein. The conflict continued for much of the next decade as an insurgency emerged to oppose the coalition forces and the post-invasion Iraqi government. US troops were officially withdrawn in 2011. The United States became re-involved in 2014 at the head of a new coalition, and the insurgency and many dimensions of the armed conflict continue today. The invasion occurred as part of the George W. Bush administration‘s War on Terror following the September 11 attacks.

Afghanistan War: Armed conflict in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. It began when an international military coalition led by the United States launched an invasion of Afghanistan, subsequently toppling the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate and establishing the internationally recognized Islamic Republic three years later. The 20-year-long conflict ultimately ended with the 2021 Taliban offensive

Current Situation:

Big Question: In 2000, Congress made the fateful decision to extend “permanent normal trade relations,” or PNTR, to China. With PNTR in hand, the floodgates of investment were opened, and U.S. multinationals worked hand in glove with Beijing to create new China-centric supply chains. This resulted in a swift decline of U.S. manufacturing employment.

Why did congress create a relationship with the PRC and U.S.S.R. given their aggressive behavior against the U.S.? Maybe greed and other goodies? Maybe for stock advantages or, maybe some members of congress, consultants and media propagandists, are Unregistered Foreign Agents?

The alarm clock should have gone off when congress established Most Favored Nation (MFN) for China. However, congress slept. Actually, it would be unfair to lay current failures at the foot of congress alone. Business and academic sectors are equally responsible.

Historically, war has usually been considered armed conflict between at least two separate nations. At this time in history, this conflict has taken on additional forms for power and profit including:

Who knows what greed and evil lurks in the hearts of men?

Propaganda agents are paid for and profit by misrepresenting issues in the media. Over time, citizens are programmed by the propaganda and become dysfunctional and unable to think clearly. Call it misdirection.

The question that needs to be answered, “is it too late” to wake up?

This series of posts may provoke emotional reactions from readers. It is similar to the metaphor of the boiling frog. Government leads business and education communities into the pot of boiling water. The difference is the frog reacts by jumping out before being cooked. Are politicians, business and education too greedy to realize they are going to be cooked.

Horizon signal events are periods of time that indicate the influence and activities confronting democracy. During the signal events, actions were taken by the U.S. Congress to create open access to U.S. markets.

World Trade Organization: Agreements contain special provisions for developing countries, including longer time periods to implement commitments. Developing countries including China comprise a majority of the WTO membership.

China and the WTO: Search by the “Country Tab” indicates China is involved in the significant number of trade disputes (3996). Whereas most other countries involved in trade disputes may average less than (100). The inability of the U.S. to maintain a balance in foreign trade has accumulated a negative balance of $17 trillion for the period from 1992-2020.

This imbalance has provided the funding necessary for adversaries of the U.S. to monopolize shipping, mineral resources, manufacturing, digital communications and financing worldwide. This advantage may indirectly fund terrorism activities, compromise international security and provide for international criminal activity.

Terror: A state or feeling of overwhelming fear by a nation or its citizens. Currently, invasion of the Ukraine by Russia is causing fear as citizens flee to safety in neighboring countries. Host countries sense fear in anticipation of Russia’s future ventures and destruction.

Terrorists: Advocates or practitioners of terrorism as a means of coercion. An individual, group leader, head of state and their accomplices.

Terrorism: China shares in the invasion of the Ukraine by supporting the action of Russia. Why does China support the current terror activities by Russia? At the time of the Olympics, Russia signed an agreement to provide grain to China. Russia needed more land to uphold the agreement and the Ukraine is a supplier of 20% of the world consumption of grain.

Vision of Humanity: Provides more information on the subject of the Russia, China relationship. Included on the website is an Overall Global Peace Index Score which lists countries by the level of peacefulness. Some of the least peaceful countries are Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Russia, Iraq, Ukraine, North Korea and others. None of the least peaceful countries are democratic and many of their leaders are considered terrorists. Surprisingly, China is ranked 89th out of 160, in the middle of the pack.

State Sponsors of Terrorism: Lists only Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Iran, and Syria. The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is not listed despite the issues identified above.

United Nations: Office of Counter-Terrorism Tasks:

Items have been simplified for reading. Refer to the link above.

  • Enhance Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination.
  • Strengthen counter-terrorism capacity.
  • Improve visibility of efforts.
  • Ensure priority across the United Nations.
  • Ensure preventing violent extremism is rooted in Strategy.

Financing terrorism and criminal activity are generally considered separate issues. The attack on 9/11 and possibly COVID-19 are considered acts of terrorism for political and financial influence. The illegal importation of narcotics, money laundering, human trafficking and organ harvesting are examples of criminal acts for profit. These activities may become intertwined. Terrorist organizations may use criminal organizations to fund their terrorist activities.

Groups conducting terrorist activities, and criminal organizations may have separate legal business entities that are listed on the stock exchanges. Investors may be indirectly funding organizations involved in terrorism or criminal activities. In some instances, these organizations may also receive government grants, as with research at the Wuhan laboratory for the COVID-19 issue.

Accumulated Costs: The cost items addressed above total $31,634,000,000,000. That is 31 trillion, 634 billion dollars spent, projected to be spent or lost. This amount is equal to the total U.S. trade deficit.

Personnel Involved: Total number of military and civilian personnel involved in above wars 19,605,080. That is 19 million, 605 thousand, and 080.

Personnel Losses: The estimated number of military and other personnel died, wounded or missing 205,080.

Signal events will be published as independent posts which are complex and interrelated.

Horizon of Signal Events:

  • War and Terrorism.
  • Far East and European Terrorism.
  • International Terrorism.
  • Financing War and Terrorism.
  • Students Become Terrorists.

This post is the foundation for the war category. Content and links will be modified when information changes.

Target Prediction:

Institute for The Study of War: The West should pay close attention to the Chinese military’s preparations for urban combat, as these efforts will have profound effects on China’s policy toward Taiwan and elsewhere.

The editors forecast based on averages of all service levels over major wars indicates the military force to sustain free nations under attack during WWIII is as follows:

  • Minimum of 600 combatant ships and support facilities.
  • Minimum of 4,000 combatant and transport aviation assets and support facilities.
  • Minimum of 6,000,000 military and civilian support personnel.
  • Time to target is three years based on the current state of worldwide conflict.

The U.S. has repeated a catastrophic failure. Prior to every war, optimistic thinking has created situations wherein aggression is much more costly to standup to. The myth that, in relation to current events, Socialism, Shintoism, Nazism, Communism, and Islam countries will not attack is unreasonable. This is currently the case. Congress has created a situation where the U.S. is not self-stainable in warfare.

U.S. Strategy: Failure to prepare for two wars—one in the Indo-Pacific and one in Europe—“sends the exact wrong message” to America’s adversaries, Failure to prepare for two wars may actually “invite” China and Russia to take advantage of a conflict in the other’s sphere of influence. Research and development-heavy fiscal 2022 budget.

Frequently, it is stated that as a result of today’s complex weapons systems, the need for a significant military with accompanying noncombatant civilian support is unnecessary. Current aggression by waring nations and their accompanying criminal activity disproves that thought. Unless of course, the intent is to go nuclear, which is where the world is headed. Without conventional deterrence, that is the result.

Treasury Secretary wrong about inflation. The liberal attitude of the administration took advantage of the opportunity to make money by selling-out to China . . . money in the pocket and false greatness of the mind. The financial market in stocks and banking which was the cause the collapse in 1929 has run amuck again. Some will laugh and point to their holy bibles of finance and economics which never see it coming!

Economics is a failed science. It does not consider strength of the nation, and takes advantage of every opportunity, even with the enemy, to make a buck. New Rules: Economics For Politicians explains.

Posts represent opinions of the editor based solely on available public information.

Notes:

  • Posts are designed to be quick reads and represents the third cut on subjects.
  • Textual material consists of modified entries from the linked-to resources.
  • Postings are an index of detailed information accessed by selecting included links.
  • Organizations linked-to maintain ownership and are responsible for accuracy.
  • Posts are based on Horizon / Environmental Scanning futurist research methods.

End of Posting

Far East and European Terrorism

World history passed through several stages of development before arriving at this point in time. Over several centuries, geographical areas with homogeneous populations, languages and cultures grew into independent nations.

Trade between nations became a way of acquiring farming and manufactured products between nations. As time passed, the edge (boundaries) between homogeneous nations languages and cultures dissolved allowing the cultures of independent nations to combine.

Throughout history, timelines are marked by historical events, conflicts in the form of warfare, and currently terrorism. The sphere of influence within and between nations is displayed by leadership of one nation attempting to control, by military or economic methods, their internal political and trade partners.

Differences between political systems and access to material resources is the primary cause of conflict between nations. Each political system has their own method of citizen participation in governance and ownership of property. The U.S. is a Democracy while the primary aggressors to the United States today are the leadership of countries with Communist, Socialist, and Islamic political systems.

Terrorism, specifically in the Far East and Europe are the focus of this posting. However, additional areas of the world are also mentioned.

Terrorism Links: Limited index of available information:

  • Our World in Data: Defines terrorism as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. The reference is a significant worldwide compendium of information, charts and tables.
  • Foreign Policy Research Institute: Washington is looking to move-on from the Global War on Terrorism and put an end to the “9/11 era,” as the pendulum swings from a focus on non-state actors back to nation states. But, the enemy always gets a vote, and the psychological impact of terrorism will keep it as a front-burner issue for the foreseeable future, no matter which ideologies ebb and flow next year. Terrorism has become the form of war today.
  • statista: Terrorism in Europe with statistics and facts. Attacks by country.
  • Wikipedia: Terrorism in Europe nationalist and separatist movements. Terrorism by country and region.
  • The Diplomat: Terrorism in Asia before and since 9/11. Asian nations have been grappling with insurgencies and terrorism challenges. The Diplomat takes a look at 8 of them.
  • Significant territorial conflict has existed between cultures within the Philippine nation for decades. Essentially, it is a conflict where Islamic groups have continually transgressed on a Christian nation. This appears to be a model of current and growing conflicts worldwide.

Counter-Terrorism Links: Limited index of available information:

  • United Nations: Office of Counter-Terrorism  provides UN Member States with the necessary policy support and shares in-depth knowledge of the global strategy and wherever necessary to expedite delivery of technical assistance.
  • UN Office on Drugs and Crime: Provides relevant and valuable resources for lecturers teaching courses on counter-terrorism in universities and academic institutions across the world.
  • U.S. Department of State: Threats posed by organizations continue to evolve, the Department of State works to build global consensus to degrade and defeat these adversaries.
  • FBI: Top investigative authority for intelligence capabilities to neutralize domestic extremists and help dismantle terrorist networks worldwide.

Notes:

  • Posts are designed to be quick reads and represent the initial cuts on subjects.
  • Textual material consists of modified entries from the linked-to resources.
  • Postings are an index of detailed information accessed by selecting included links.
  • Organizations linked-to maintain ownership and are responsible for accuracy.
  • Posts are based on Horizon / Environmental Scanning futurist research methods.

End of Posting