A few Articles

Mixed Messages https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/05/us/politics/court-approves-warrantless-surveillance-rules-while-scolding-fbi.html Belarus continues the fight https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/06/belarus-protests-100000-turn-out-in-minsk-alexander-lukashenko Thank you Captain ..... https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/05/cyber-security-workers-in-demand.html A Big Navy https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpeck/2020/09/01/china-has-the-worlds-largest-navy-and-its-getting-better-pentagon-warns/#3dc8169f7933 New American Jobs https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-01/amazon-drivers-are-hanging-smartphones-in-trees-to-get-more-work

Even the military says watch out

https://prospect.org/economy/government-wants-to-let-financial-predators-off-hook/


Rent-to-own outfits, such as Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center, fill an important segment of this alternative economy. They offer appliances, electronics, and furniture on weekly or monthly payment plans. If a customer makes payments for the full term of the contract (usually 12 to 24 months), they own the good outright. Even though most customers aspire to, and ultimately do, own items obtained through rent-to-own, the industry insists it offers rentals and so is not subject to federal and state credit protections. Disclosing the cost of credit under the federal Truth in Lending Act would mean informing customers that a rent-to-own TV comes with an annualized interest rate as high as 370 percent. The industry also criminalizes debt, routinely filing police complaints and threatening criminal prosecution to extract payments from distressed consumers. The Department of Defense, in a 2006 report, described the rent-to-own business, which targets members of the military, as predatory.

Cost of the vaccancies

Some of the cost at least:
https://prospect.org/health/trump-war-on-veterans/

The department is now reeling under roughly 50,000 vacancies—a number larger than the Departments of State, Labor, Education, and Housing and Urban Development combined. These shortages make it difficult to deliver timely care to veterans under normal circumstances. 

Rocket attacks in Middle East

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi/yemens-houthis-claim-rocket-drone-attacks-on-saudis-riyadh-jazan-and-asir-idUSKBN21G0KN

Desperate to appear in Charge

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52133500?SThisFB

Tensions are rising

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-18/iran-says-it-s-not-looking-for-war-warns-u-s-against-action

China troop movements

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-30/white-house-eyeing-buildup-of-chinese-forces-on-hong-kong-border

Iran seizes ship

Iran Says Its Revolutionary Guard Seized Foreign Oil Tanker In Strait Of Hormuz
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/18/743016095/iran-says-its-revolutionary-guard-seized-foreign-oil-tanker-in-strait-of-hormuz

“This time bomb is now going off”

At the core of the problem is the way Russia funds its big weapons budget. The government doesn’t release the funds for new systems until they’re completed, forcing producers to borrow from commercial banks -- usually under government guarantee -- to cover costs before then. But the rates on those loans average about 10% a year, according to government data, leaving the companies with huge debt costs.

Putin's Huge Military Buildup Leaves Industry With Debt Hangover

What's Missing

Warning paywall

American soldiers in Syria showed me something Trump doesn’t understand http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/american-soldiers-are-honored-to-be-in-syria-we-should-be-too/2018/04/05/bada6624-3912-11e8-8fd2-49fe3c675a89_story.html

Sad if true

https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/21/trump-grandfather-friedrich-banished-germany-historian-royal-decree?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true

Interesting timing

Trump’s Transgender Ban Will Weaken the Military http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/07/trump_s_transgender_ban_will_weaken_the_military.html

First time I have heard of this

Father of US commando killed in Yemen refused to meet Trump

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39099680

Jihad mercenaries

The Blackwater of Jihad | Foreign Policy http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/02/10/the-world-first-jihadi-private-military-contractor-syria-russia-malhama-tactical/

Red Flag

Cyber’s role in Air Force’s premier training exercise: Red Flag

http://www.c4isrnet.com/articles/cybers-role-air-forces-premier-training-exercise-red-flag

let's see how this goes

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2016/12/05/raytheon-to-help-the-pentagon-protect-power.html

Questionable Russian ships

After NATO Objections, Russian Warships Won't Refuel At Spanish Port

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/27/499563200/after-nato-objections-russian-warships-wont-refuel-at-spanish-port

Sky net is born

I guess James Cameron's dystopian future has only given ideas and not warned anyone.

Royal Navy tests robot subs, boats and drones for fleet of the future | ZDNet http://www.zdnet.com/article/royal-navy-tests-robot-subs-boats-and-drones-for-fleet-of-the-future/

More empty threats

U.S.-South Korea War Games Begin Despite Threats From North Korea : The Two-Way : NPR http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/22/490921432/u-s-south-korea-war-games-begin-despite-threats-from-north-korea

One day though, this lunatic might make good on his threats though.

More threats of war

North Korea 'tests submarine-launched ballistic missile' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36753335