HALF-FULL REPORT 05/17/19

How many Democrats do you think soiled their underwear while watching the retirement ceremony for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein last week?

Attorney General Bill Barr, former Attorney General “Stealth Jeff” Sessions and Rosenstein aren’t hiding any more how bigly “Sneaky Rod” played coup plotters.

“One Time #Resistance Hero Rod Rosenstein Was Trump’s Leak-Hunter-In-Chief,” headlined the Daily Beast in this story Monday (5/13).

Rosenstein’s resignation letter April 29 should have been a clue he’s been on Team Trump all along. It was “remarkable,” said the Washington Post. “Strange,” said the New Yorker.

“The band is back together again,” Attorney General Barr said, referring to himself, Sessions, Rosenstein… and Bob Mueller.

Rosenstein quoted Mueller in a commencement address Monday (5/13) to law graduates at the University of Baltimore.  The dude can troll.

Democrats no longer are demanding the Special Counsel testify. Gee, I wonder why.

I suspect Mueller ran a sting on his deputy, Andrew Weismann, who hired the “angry Democrats” for the Special Counsel’s staff, may have been involved in the attempt to frame George Papadopoulos.

* * * *

We may be approaching endgame with Iran.

The mullahs have lost billions since President Trump’s toughened sanctions went into effect May 1. The president’s goal is to drive Iranian oil exports to zero.

The sanctions that accompany the president’s designation April 15 of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps – the SS of the mullahs – as a “foreign terrorist organization” bite some more.

The IMF predicted Iran’s economy would contract by 3.6 percent this year. That was before massive flooding caused millions of dollars of damage. The regime’s unwillingness or inability to alleviate the suffering of tens of thousands who have lost their homes and livelihood has exacerbated public discontent.

As their grip on power loosens, the mullahs lash out, with their usual bellicose rhetoric… and by authorizing (ordering?) their proxies – Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and the Shia militias they fund in Iraq – to strike our allies and U.S. personnel in the region.

The primary threat comes from thousands of rockets and missiles already supplied to Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, newly supplied to militias in Iraq.

To counter the threat, the president dispatched an aircraft carrier task force, B-52 bombers, and Patriot anti-missile batteries to the region. The military moves were made after intelligence reports (apparently from Israel) indicated rockets were being moved to positions from which they could strike U.S. troops.

National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made it clear Iran will not escape punishment for acts of war committed by its proxies.

Pompeo abruptly cancelled a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week to meet with Iraqi leaders. Rumor has it Pompeo told them that if they didn’t deal with the Iranian rockets, we would; it was time for them to decide if they were with us, or against us.

“Non-emergency” diplomatic personnel should leave Iraq, Pompeo ordered Wednesday (5/15)

The Lying Swine question whether the Iranian threat is real. Britain’s foreign secretary and NATO’s secretary general say it is.

Rats are most dangerous when cornered, which is why Sun Tzu said you should leave your enemy an avenue of retreat. This is why the president said he’d like the mullahs to call him, gave the number to his direct line to Switzerland if they choose to get in touch.

The Swiss president came to the White House yesterday (5/16) for an unscheduled meeting. Somehow everyone in the MSM missed the significance of this.

This news report that Trump “is frustrated by advisers, isn’t convinced the time is right to attack Iran” is good cop/bad cop kabuki, to prompt the mullahs to pick up the phone.

There’ll be no war unless the mullahs provoke it. Though he won’t hesitate to use military force if absolutely necessary, Trump prefers to use economic leverage to rein in our enemies.

A war would be over quickly, end badly for the mullahs. We’d be aided by Saudi and UAE special forces – who are very, very good – and who’ve been “preparing the battlefield” for quite some time. I don’t see how the regime could survive it.

The show of force, and this leak are intended to induce the mullahs to step back from the brink.

A deal to relax sanctions is possible… if the mullahs (really and truly) end their nuclear weapons program, stop support for terrorist proxies. But if the mullahs agree to that, they’d lose their raison d’etre.

I hope the mullahs realize Donald Trump is not at all like Barack Obama. If all they offer are promises they have no intention of keeping, I think the president will offer them his version of plomo o plata (lead or silver).

Should the mullahs choose to retire and move closer to the billions they’ve squirreled away in Swiss banks, no one will stop them. If they cling to power, they could swing from lampposts.

* * * *

The president tightened economic screws on Venezuela this week, too.

* * * *

President Trump has a knack for giving political opponents derogatory nicknames that stick.

* * * *

President Trump unveiled his plan for reform of our immigration laws yesterday (5/16). It’s superb, but unless and until he is re-elected and Republicans retake the House, there is little likelihood it will be enacted.

But his plan should appeal to most voters, which increases the likelihood he’ll be re-elected and Republicans will retake the House.

Sen. Lindsey Graham has a good idea, too.

Chances of immigration reform before 2021 are not zero. Nancy Pelosi walked back yesterday her claim there is no crisis at the border.

* * * *

Several news organizations reported yesterday (5/16) the president plans to invoke the “tremendous powers” of the Insurrection Act of 1807 to remove illegal immigrants.

The Insurrection Act authorizes the president to use the military to combat “unlawful obstruction or rebellion” within the U.S.

I’m down with this, but I think the Insurrection Act is being floated to trigger Democrats, to make them more willing to support immigration reform.

* * * *

Sleepy Creepy Joe Biden received an “unlawful benefit” from the Burisma Group, say prosecutors in Ukraine. Biden bragged about how he forced Ukraine to drop a corruption probe of the Burisma Group, on whose board son Hunter sat.

Bidens pere et fils also have some splainin’ to do about Hunter’s extraordinarily lucrative dealings with China. Less than two weeks after arriving with dad aboard Air Force Two in 2013, Hunter – a novice in the world of finance – inked a billion dollar deal with a subsidiary of the Bank of China.

* * * *

Attorney General Bill Barr has picked legendary federal prosecutor John H. Durham to investigate the origins of Spygate, the New York Times reported Monday (5/13).

Durham has been on the job since at least last October, so it was actually DAG Rod Rosenstein who chose him.

Durham is renowned for nailing crooked feds. He prosecuted corrupt FBI agents in Boston who framed innocent people for crimes committed by their “informant,” mobster Whitey Bulger. He’s also investigated the CIA.

“Durham’s associates say that at precisely 12:01 each day he eats a bowl of 2” galvanized nails, washed down with a pint of kerosene.”

Durham was appointed to lead high profile investigations by Democrat attorneys general Janet Reno and Eric Holder, sent a Republican governor to jail. His stellar reputation makes it harder to claim prosecutions of coup plotters are political revenge, but Da Nang Dick gave it a shot.

“My favorite thing about Barr appointing a U.S. Attorney to investigate the Russia probe is that if anyone complains about it in any way they’re guilty of undermining the rule of law, attacking the very foundations of our republic, and possibly even obstructing justice,” said Mollie Hemingway.

* * * *

If “Bull” Durham is in charge of Spygate, what’s USA John Huber been up to?

According to this report from NBC correspondent Laura Jarrett (yeah, her daughter), he’s been investigating the Clintons, is in a “holding pattern” until DOJ IG Michael Horowitz issues his report. Expect indictments shortly thereafter.

* * * *

The White House opened Wednesday (5/15) a web site where people who’ve been censored on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube etc.) can tell their stories.

The president is gathering evidence for a crackdown on Silicon Valley fascists. Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey et al may not be able to give Democrats as much help in 2020 as Dems are counting on.

* * * *

Leftists are peeved Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill that defines a fetus as a “person” as soon as a heartbeat can be detected.

Georgia is the fourth state to pass a “heartbeat” law, the practical effect of which is to reduce to about six weeks the time in which most abortions are legal. Sponsors hope to get the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade (1973).

If the Supreme Court reverses Roe, the law would revert to the status quo ante, when regulation of abortion was up to the states.

Reversal would have little immediate effect, because states such as California and New York could keep laws permitting late term abortions.

Repeal the “heartbeat” law, or we’ll boycott Georgia, threatened B & C listers in Hollywood. That didn’t move Gov. Kemp, so radical feminists escalated, in a hilariously counterproductive way.

Women should go on a sex strike until their “bodily autonomy” is restored, said C list actress and A list nitwit Alyssa Milano.

“STOP having sex with conservative men,” demands failed Dem pol Pam Keith.

Some questioned the logic behind a sex strike.

“As women, it is our duty to stand up for our right to an abortion by ensuring that none of us get pregnant,” said “Titania McGrath” (a parody site).

If leftist women stop having sex, there’ll be fewer abortions and STDs – and they won’t reproduce.

“From an evolutionary perspective, the radical feminist sex strike has the potential to save America,” said Candace Owens.

Why do radical feminists think conservative men want to have sex with them?

Linda Simmons asks: “Did you ever think liberals are so nasty, angry and hostile because they are so butt ugly?

* * * *

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed this bill Wednesday (5/15), which restricts abortions even more than do the “heartbeat” laws.

“The patriarchy” is to blame for the new law, feminists say. But Gov. Ivey is a woman, as are its sponsors in the legislature. Another leftist narrative goes poof.

* * * *

Elections for the European Parliament next Thursday (5/23) could be disastrous for the political elite in Britain. The brand new Brexit Party has more support than do Labour and Conservatives combined, this poll indicates.

The Tories may be destroyed if they don’t dump feckless, duplicitous Prime Minister Theresa May before the election, said Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan.

She’ll resign next month, a tearful May said yesterday.

* * * *

President Trump issued an executive order Wednesday (5/15) that will bar American firms from doing business with the Chinese telecom giant Huawei and 70 of Huawei’s “affiliates” without  permission from the government.

The president has been urging allies not to let Huawei – which puts spyware in its products – to build next generation 5G networks in their countries, without much success.

But the ban on so many of Huawei’s “affiliates” disrupts their supply chain and casts into doubt the company’s ability to build a 5-G network in a timely fashion.

Yesterday, a former head of MI-6 said Huawei “poses such a grave security risk” that it should not be permitted to build any portion of a 5-G network in Britain.

Barely more than a fortnight ago, Prime Minister Theresa May fired her defence minister because she suspected he was behind a leak she favored Huawei to build Britain’s 5-G network.

David Cameron, May’s predecessor and “rabbi,” has made a lot of money doing business with Huawei. The core of China’s international business plan has been to buy politicians. It’s Huawei’s misfortune President Trump can’t be bought.

* * * *

Two more joined the herd running for the Democrat nomination for president this week.

The campaign of New York City’s communist mayor, Bill deBlasio, got off to an inauspicious start.

When asked what accomplishment he’s most proud of, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock couldn’t think of any.

* * * *

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) said she gets a “calm feeling” when she thinks of the Holocaust. Democrat leaders defended her. John Hayward explains why they think they have to, why it will lead to ever more blatant anti-Semitism.

“Both the Democratic leadership and the liberal media establishment will back these bigots (Tlaib and Ilhan Omar) against any and all charges of anti-Semitism in return for smooth relations with the social-justice left,” said Abe Greenwald. “It’s a monstrous deal made by people too weak to defend their party and speak the truth.”

“The rot is irreversible,” he said.

* * * *

Signs abound the Spygate tsunami will strike next week… and Democrats are scared spitless.

*If Dems paid attention to what Attorney General Bill Barr said in this interview this morning, they should be scared spitless.

*DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz has finished his report. It’s in the final stages of review.

*Key Spygate documents will be released next week, her sources tell Laura Ingraham. Q said declassification would occur before the IG report is made public.

*The Justice Department has asked the judge presiding over his case to make public evidence of Michael Flynn’s cooperation. Despite desperate efforts by the Lying Swine to spin this, it indicates Flynn’s exoneration is imminent.

*Yesterday (5/16) Italy’s prime minister abruptly demanded the resignations of six senior intelligence officials; scheduled a meeting for today with the U.S. ambassador.

Italian spooks conspired with British spooks and Michael Gaeta, the FBI’s resident agent in Rome, to frame him by falsely describing Joseph Mifsud, a British asset, as a Russian spy, George Papadopoulos has long maintained. Is Italy preparing for a big reveal?

* * * *

There’s more, but I’m way long and out of time. Until next week, which will be lit.

 

Jack Kelly is a former Marine and Green Beret, and was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force during the Reagan Administration.  Until his retirement in January 2017, he was the national security writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.