President Trump, his budget director and chief of staff want the democrats in congress to pass his agenda concerning a spending bill before congress to prevent a government shutdown that looms Saturday April 29. Those are the same people who supported the congressional republicans stand of doing nothing to help President Obama's agenda when he first took office in 2009. And their position was the same when President Obama nominated his pick for Supreme Court Justice.
Trump and his friends are having a hard time accomplishing any meaningful legislation in his first 100 days as he promised, so now he wants his funding agenda passed that includes the Wall and the repeal and replacement of the ACA. He can not be sure of his republican votes and needs democrats to avoid a shutdown of government. All of this speaks loud and clear of the lies Trump and the republicans are living.
Despite the lies that the ACA will self destruct, the lies really tell a story that the ACA is alive, well and working. If it were not, repealing and replacement of the ACA would have been easy after seven years of empty promises. The Wall is the BIG Lie of the Trump campaign and now wants the tax payers to pay for the lie and the WALL. Like the republican's stand on the ACA, Trump can't even tell congress how he will make Mexico pay for the WALL and he has had over a year to do so. If he was serious it would be spelled out in the spending bill just how Mexico would pay for the WALL.
The democrats in congress need to stay steady and refuse to allow the tax payers to pay for the WALL and should vote against any repeal and replacement of the ACA. President Trump and the republicans made their own bed so let them sleep in it.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, April 24, 2017
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Miscalculation and A Failure To Live Up To Campaign Promises and The Drum Beat of War With North Korea
President Trump has been in office 87 days and his campaign promise of legislation in his first 100 days in office is in peril. His only real accomplishments have taken place with his executive orders that rolled back progress made under the administration of President Obama. The President and his party's lies about having a plan to repeal and replace the ACA came crashing down in congress, his budget contains $2 billion to build a border wall he said Mexico would pay for that is in limbo, tax reform, immigration reform, the highway bill and other pronouncements have been delayed. China, who Trump told the people was a currency manipulator is no longer one because he wants China's help with North Korea.
The President not only failed in his legislative pursuits he miscalculated what was going on in Syria and was caught flat footed with the chemical attack in Syria a little over a week ago. The missile strike on Syria was born out of that miscalculation and the President's failures. Now we are hearing the drum beat of war with North Korea. And it is coming from Trump and his VP Mike Pence, the secretary of state and the secretary of defense.
The administration is speaking with one voice using the same statements: North Korea's missile test are provocative, ditto if they test another nuclear devise, their show of military power, their provocative talk against South Korea and America. North Korea is doing what every other nuclear power did, including the U.S. before they became a nuclear power. They tested their missiles and still do and they tested their nuclear weapons. Does that mean the U.S. and the other nuclear nations were provocative at the time? Is it provocative for the present nuclear powers to say we can have and keep our nuclear weapons but North Korea, Iran and others can not acquire their own? This writer feels sure that North Korea feels that is provocative towards their country.
Unintentional wars caused by miscalculation cost lives like it did in Iraq which is still playing out 14 years and counting. Who is the greater military threat to America and its allies? North Korea and Iran or Russia and China? Russia and China still test their missiles and other advanced weapons. And of course the U.S. holds joint military exercises with its allies in South Korea and off their coast and China's coast. We do the same thing in Russia's part of the world.
It seems like every country is doing something that could be questioned as being provocative to some one else. One small miscalculation could start a war of no return. North Korean leaders like to talk tough like republicans but the armistice that ended the Korean war in 1953 has been in effect for 64 years. North Korea is not going to start a war with South Korea or the U.S. It would be a war of a giant (the U.S.) against a flea (N. Korea) China would not allow N. Korea's leader to act so foolish even though their leader is a loud mouth like Trump.
President Kennedy was well aware how a miscalculation could have killed thousands in America and Russia during the Cuban missile crisis. That situation was 1000 times worse than what is taking place in North Korea because Russia had those missiles with nuclear warheads planted 90 miles from our shore. President Kennedy knew what war was all about being a veteran of WWII and had the wisdom that ended the Russian threat to this hemisphere. That wisdom needs to be found today for a better future.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The President not only failed in his legislative pursuits he miscalculated what was going on in Syria and was caught flat footed with the chemical attack in Syria a little over a week ago. The missile strike on Syria was born out of that miscalculation and the President's failures. Now we are hearing the drum beat of war with North Korea. And it is coming from Trump and his VP Mike Pence, the secretary of state and the secretary of defense.
The administration is speaking with one voice using the same statements: North Korea's missile test are provocative, ditto if they test another nuclear devise, their show of military power, their provocative talk against South Korea and America. North Korea is doing what every other nuclear power did, including the U.S. before they became a nuclear power. They tested their missiles and still do and they tested their nuclear weapons. Does that mean the U.S. and the other nuclear nations were provocative at the time? Is it provocative for the present nuclear powers to say we can have and keep our nuclear weapons but North Korea, Iran and others can not acquire their own? This writer feels sure that North Korea feels that is provocative towards their country.
Unintentional wars caused by miscalculation cost lives like it did in Iraq which is still playing out 14 years and counting. Who is the greater military threat to America and its allies? North Korea and Iran or Russia and China? Russia and China still test their missiles and other advanced weapons. And of course the U.S. holds joint military exercises with its allies in South Korea and off their coast and China's coast. We do the same thing in Russia's part of the world.
It seems like every country is doing something that could be questioned as being provocative to some one else. One small miscalculation could start a war of no return. North Korean leaders like to talk tough like republicans but the armistice that ended the Korean war in 1953 has been in effect for 64 years. North Korea is not going to start a war with South Korea or the U.S. It would be a war of a giant (the U.S.) against a flea (N. Korea) China would not allow N. Korea's leader to act so foolish even though their leader is a loud mouth like Trump.
President Kennedy was well aware how a miscalculation could have killed thousands in America and Russia during the Cuban missile crisis. That situation was 1000 times worse than what is taking place in North Korea because Russia had those missiles with nuclear warheads planted 90 miles from our shore. President Kennedy knew what war was all about being a veteran of WWII and had the wisdom that ended the Russian threat to this hemisphere. That wisdom needs to be found today for a better future.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, April 17, 2017
President Trump and His Failure To Make His Tax Returns Public.
Lawrence O'Donnell, host of "The Last Word" on MSNBC publically stated long before Donald Trump announced he would run for President, that Trump would never make his tax returns public. O'Donnell knew Trump was the type of person who had something to hide from the public. O'Donnell also pointed out many of Trump's lies and "fake news" before he became a Presidential candidate.
Trump's excuse for not releasing his tax returns has run in circles. First it was because he was under audit, but then said he would release them after the audit was complete and then he said he would not release them at all. Well, this past week end people showed up in protest and demanded Trump release his tax returns and the President answered by saying the "election was over."
Hillary Clinton has released over 40 years of tax returns and has been the most transparent Presidential nominee in all the history of Presidential elections. This is the same woman Trump called crooked Hillary. But it has become obvious who the crooked one really is and the question of what Trump has to hide needs to be answered. Now he is hiding behind his statement "the election is over." But that is not good enough for a President who continues to make lying a major factor in his administration.
The Presidency is much larger than Donald Trump and the people have a right to know what he is trying to hide. And yes, every day Trump's actions confirm that Hillary Clinton is a better woman than Trump is a man.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Trump's excuse for not releasing his tax returns has run in circles. First it was because he was under audit, but then said he would release them after the audit was complete and then he said he would not release them at all. Well, this past week end people showed up in protest and demanded Trump release his tax returns and the President answered by saying the "election was over."
Hillary Clinton has released over 40 years of tax returns and has been the most transparent Presidential nominee in all the history of Presidential elections. This is the same woman Trump called crooked Hillary. But it has become obvious who the crooked one really is and the question of what Trump has to hide needs to be answered. Now he is hiding behind his statement "the election is over." But that is not good enough for a President who continues to make lying a major factor in his administration.
The Presidency is much larger than Donald Trump and the people have a right to know what he is trying to hide. And yes, every day Trump's actions confirm that Hillary Clinton is a better woman than Trump is a man.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, April 15, 2017
The Republican's Failure To Live Up To Their So Called Tough Talk
President Reagan came to office talking tough and said terrorists could run but could not hide from America. Then terrorists struck the U.S. Marine compound in Beirut killing 241 Marines. That attack was and still is the worst terror attack against Americans on foreign soil. The planners of that attack were never brought to justice by the Reagan administration. The President also said he would never negotiate with terrorists and then sold arms to Iran in what became know as the Iran-Contra scandal.
President George W. Bush came to office talking tough then the tragic events of 9-11 took place in New York and killed over 2000. That attack was and still is the worst foreign terror attack on U.S. soil. The Planner of that attack, Bin Laden was never brought to justice by the Bush administration. But President Obama did bring Bin Laden to justice because he made it the governments top priority. Then came tough talk about Iraq, an invasion and occupation over WMD that did not exist and Bush would not end that war or occupation before he left office. Saddam Hussein was no longer around and terrorists who entered Iraq because of the invasion were responsible for most of the U.S. casualties in Iraq.
President Trump came to office talking tough about fighting terror and sent mixed signals to our adversaries. Because of his hatred for President Obama he played the blame game. Trump said the killing of police officials would stop and not happen on his watch but several have already been killed. When North Korea test fired several missiles before President Obama left office, Trump said it would not happen on his watch, but North Korea test fired several since Trump took office. Trump said all along the U.S. has no interest in being in Syria and then Syria launched an alleged chemical attack on his own people.
There is an important story here folks. Tough talk don't make a man or a President. It is the President's responsibility to prevent attacks and not brag how tough you are and then have to react after the fact that usually cost lives. The attacks against Iraq and Syria were against two countries that did not have the military capacity to respond. The New York Times reported according to a story in the Huffington Post that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was told at his most recent visit with the Russians not to strike Syria again. That story receive very little publicity by the news media and the Trump administration.
It would be a good thing for the tough talkers to keep in mind miscalculations have already cost too many American lives.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
President George W. Bush came to office talking tough then the tragic events of 9-11 took place in New York and killed over 2000. That attack was and still is the worst foreign terror attack on U.S. soil. The Planner of that attack, Bin Laden was never brought to justice by the Bush administration. But President Obama did bring Bin Laden to justice because he made it the governments top priority. Then came tough talk about Iraq, an invasion and occupation over WMD that did not exist and Bush would not end that war or occupation before he left office. Saddam Hussein was no longer around and terrorists who entered Iraq because of the invasion were responsible for most of the U.S. casualties in Iraq.
President Trump came to office talking tough about fighting terror and sent mixed signals to our adversaries. Because of his hatred for President Obama he played the blame game. Trump said the killing of police officials would stop and not happen on his watch but several have already been killed. When North Korea test fired several missiles before President Obama left office, Trump said it would not happen on his watch, but North Korea test fired several since Trump took office. Trump said all along the U.S. has no interest in being in Syria and then Syria launched an alleged chemical attack on his own people.
There is an important story here folks. Tough talk don't make a man or a President. It is the President's responsibility to prevent attacks and not brag how tough you are and then have to react after the fact that usually cost lives. The attacks against Iraq and Syria were against two countries that did not have the military capacity to respond. The New York Times reported according to a story in the Huffington Post that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was told at his most recent visit with the Russians not to strike Syria again. That story receive very little publicity by the news media and the Trump administration.
It would be a good thing for the tough talkers to keep in mind miscalculations have already cost too many American lives.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, April 14, 2017
Pictures Can Be Deceiving, Especially On Facebook and The Social Media
They say a picture is worth more than words but this writer can recall a picture posted on facebook during the campaign by a Trump supporter that was trivial at the time and now just plain sour grapes. It was a picture of President Obama on the golf course where he was vacationing and the writer took the President to task because the trip cost the tax payers a lot of dollars.
Now we have a new President by the name of Donald Trump and according to a story in the Huffington Post, Trump's trips to his resort at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach Florida has cost the tax payers over $21 million and at that price will exceed in one year what it cost the tax payers for President Obama's eight years in office. Now that is staggering. But the larger problem is how Trump's supporters fell for Trump's fraud talk and how they were so jealous of President Obama would resort to some thing trivial. Maybe the Trump supporter will post a picture of Trump playing golf at his resort and tell the readers how much Trump's trips are costing the tax payers.
The supporter needs to also read up on spending tax payers money because in the past 37 years the largest percentage increase in federal spending took place on the watch of President's Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush and the smallest took place on the watch of President's Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Fake news about federal spending comes from the Republican Party.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Now we have a new President by the name of Donald Trump and according to a story in the Huffington Post, Trump's trips to his resort at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach Florida has cost the tax payers over $21 million and at that price will exceed in one year what it cost the tax payers for President Obama's eight years in office. Now that is staggering. But the larger problem is how Trump's supporters fell for Trump's fraud talk and how they were so jealous of President Obama would resort to some thing trivial. Maybe the Trump supporter will post a picture of Trump playing golf at his resort and tell the readers how much Trump's trips are costing the tax payers.
The supporter needs to also read up on spending tax payers money because in the past 37 years the largest percentage increase in federal spending took place on the watch of President's Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush and the smallest took place on the watch of President's Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Fake news about federal spending comes from the Republican Party.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Will The Louisiana Legislature Act Responsible This Session?
Governor John Bel Edwards called two special sessions last year to deal with the state's fiscal problems that were recurring on the watch of former Governor Bobby Jindal. However, last years budget was not balanced and we are told this years budget is about $300 million out of balance. So the problem still exist. The republican controlled legislature last year rejected many of the bills of Governor Edwards.
So now that same republican controlled body is back in session to deal with the same worn out fiscal problems. They have had more than enough time and chances to put Louisiana's fiscal house in order both for the short and long term and have failed for the past 9 years. So what should they do now? Well, this writer thinks they should approve the Governor's plans and proposals for a change and lets see what happens. The Governor should be given that opportunity and the republicans should step back.
The republicans plans have not worked and the state and its people have paid the price. The unemployment rate in Louisiana is still higher than the national average, the state lost jobs last year and Louisiana is still near or at the bottom on the economic ladder. The people voted for change over a year ago when they elected Edwards so let him enact his agenda. There are too many republicans like the state's Attorney General who are willing to do any thing to see the Governor fail.
That thinking is anti-Louisiana and anti-people. Come election time the people will have a say if the Governor's policies fail and he should be given the opportunity by the legislature to carry out his plan for the state.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
So now that same republican controlled body is back in session to deal with the same worn out fiscal problems. They have had more than enough time and chances to put Louisiana's fiscal house in order both for the short and long term and have failed for the past 9 years. So what should they do now? Well, this writer thinks they should approve the Governor's plans and proposals for a change and lets see what happens. The Governor should be given that opportunity and the republicans should step back.
The republicans plans have not worked and the state and its people have paid the price. The unemployment rate in Louisiana is still higher than the national average, the state lost jobs last year and Louisiana is still near or at the bottom on the economic ladder. The people voted for change over a year ago when they elected Edwards so let him enact his agenda. There are too many republicans like the state's Attorney General who are willing to do any thing to see the Governor fail.
That thinking is anti-Louisiana and anti-people. Come election time the people will have a say if the Governor's policies fail and he should be given the opportunity by the legislature to carry out his plan for the state.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Part III: United States Launches an Air Strike On Syria: President Trump's Major Miscalculation.
The President's policy toward Syria and Russia prior to the recent alleged Syrian chemical attack gave those two countries confidence that any misbehavior by them would provoke only a tiny prick from the Trump administration. Trump's policy toward Russia was one of accepting Russia's military involvement in Syria because as he said, "they will help Syria fight ISIS and that is good." However, they also helped Syria fight the anti Syrian rebels who have been fighting a civil war against Assad and Syria for several years and Trump Knew the Russians were doing that.
Trump's position was also that he could deal with Putin and Russia even though he knew the history of Putin and Russia and was receiving intelligence briefings after becoming the nominee. Trump also enlisted Putin to spy on America"s email, especially Hillary's email.
And of course, Trump told America, the world and even Putin that Putin was a better leader than President Obama and even had a higher approval rating than President Obama. Pretty strange words for an American to compare a dictator and country that lacks any democratic process to the leaders of the free world and America who is governed by the democratic process. Yes, what Trump said as a Presidential candidate, a Presidential nominee, a President elect and a President really does matter and have consequences and should be unacceptable.
As President, Trump's policy toward Syria prior to the chemical attack was one of disengagement and did not object to Syria's Assad staying in power or taking advantage of Putin's military involvement in Syria. It was the same Trump that was well aware that Syria's chemical attack in 2013 killed 20 times more people than the one on Trump's watch, including children. But President Trump's policy was one of accepting the status quo in Syria. Syria and Assad were well aware of Trump's tweet in 2013 indicating that President Obama should not launch an attack against Syria for their actions.
President Trump's own words and positions on Syria and Russia make it plausible that Trump's action to launch a strike against Syria was motivated by his low poll numbers, his lack of any legislation accomplishments in his first 80 days in office, the three investigations concerning he and his campaign ties to Russia and the chaos within his own administration. An additional fact to be considered is Trump's repeated lies about President Obama and others that indicate a man who loves the spot light regardless who gets hurt or the fall out. The President of the United States needs to be a stable leader who knows how to choose his words. President Trump has failed the test.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Trump's position was also that he could deal with Putin and Russia even though he knew the history of Putin and Russia and was receiving intelligence briefings after becoming the nominee. Trump also enlisted Putin to spy on America"s email, especially Hillary's email.
And of course, Trump told America, the world and even Putin that Putin was a better leader than President Obama and even had a higher approval rating than President Obama. Pretty strange words for an American to compare a dictator and country that lacks any democratic process to the leaders of the free world and America who is governed by the democratic process. Yes, what Trump said as a Presidential candidate, a Presidential nominee, a President elect and a President really does matter and have consequences and should be unacceptable.
As President, Trump's policy toward Syria prior to the chemical attack was one of disengagement and did not object to Syria's Assad staying in power or taking advantage of Putin's military involvement in Syria. It was the same Trump that was well aware that Syria's chemical attack in 2013 killed 20 times more people than the one on Trump's watch, including children. But President Trump's policy was one of accepting the status quo in Syria. Syria and Assad were well aware of Trump's tweet in 2013 indicating that President Obama should not launch an attack against Syria for their actions.
President Trump's own words and positions on Syria and Russia make it plausible that Trump's action to launch a strike against Syria was motivated by his low poll numbers, his lack of any legislation accomplishments in his first 80 days in office, the three investigations concerning he and his campaign ties to Russia and the chaos within his own administration. An additional fact to be considered is Trump's repeated lies about President Obama and others that indicate a man who loves the spot light regardless who gets hurt or the fall out. The President of the United States needs to be a stable leader who knows how to choose his words. President Trump has failed the test.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Job Creation for March 2017
The Labor Department announced that the economy created 98,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate was at 4.5%. Job Creation was almost 200,000 jobs less than the previous month of February. The Trump administration was mostly silent on the numbers after celebrating the job numbers for February.
Time will be the judge if the Trump administration can live up to the pronouncements of creating 20,000,000 new jobs. History tells us that number has been reached only once, when the Clinton administration created 22.7 million new jobs. The real question is will the Trump administration really be a job creating administration. Talk is cheap and Trump is already behind his own predictions of what his administration would accomplish in his first 100 days in office. And the latest information on his tax reform plan is that the plan is being changed big time and will not look at all like the plan he proposed during the campaign and after he was elected.
This writer thinks Trump will have to look more and more to the democrats in congress to really accomplish any thing meaningful. The hand writing is on the wall. And I am not talking about a border wall that some of his republican friends are saying never will be built. It is known that Trump's budget request to pay for the wall will be paid by the American people, if built at all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Part II: The United States Launches Air Strike On Syria
The news media was swift in its laudatory comments for the President's decision to strike Syria over its alleged chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, Syria. One report said Trump became President that day, one said Trump's action was Presidential. A long New York Times story praised Trump for his swift action and that his unpredictable actions was a new chapter in American foreign policy that would keep our adversaries guessing what a President Trump would do. It was also reported the strike put North Korea and Iran on notice, and etc., etc., and etc.
If all that sounds familiar its because you heard and read it all before 14 years ago from the same news media when President George W. Bush launched his attack and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist. Elements of the news media announced that Bush and Cheney planned to take out 5 countries in the region starting with Iraq but the so called "cake walk" in Iraq pushed all that aside. "Fake news" was alive 14 years ago courtesy of the Bush administration and the news media. And the most silly part of the "fake news" was that Iraq was a threat to the national security of the United States which Bush and Cheney said over and over again.
As of this writing there is no official report of the intelligence community that has positively identified Assad and or Syria as the entity who carried out the chemical attack. The anti Syrian rebels, ISIS and Al Queda have all operated in the area of the chemical attack according to reports and all three have the capabilities of putting together chemical weapons and using them. All three also would like to see Assad removed from power. That would be a powerful motive to try and suck the U.S. into removing Assad by blaming him for the chemical attack.
A legitimate question to ask would be did the President order the strike against Syria because of his low poll ratings and other problems he and his administration are having. After all, Trump tweeted this in 2012 concerning President Obama, Lybia and Iran: NOW THAT OBAMA'S POLL NUMBERS ARE IN A TAILSPIN - WATCH FOR HIM TO LAUNCH A STRIKE IN LYBIA OR IRAN. HE IS DESPERATE. So that kind of thinking was on Donald Trumps mind. Was he himself a desperate President when he made the decision to launch? Another question to be asked: Did President Trump try to act tough by striking Syria, an ally of Russia to derail the FBI and congressional investigations of the possible collusion of Trump and his campaign with Russia?
The news media failed its obligation to search for the truth in the run up to war with Iraq 14 years ago. And today their early reports on the Syria attack are repeating the mistakes of the past. Trump said our decisions will be guided by our values. That statement contradicts every thing Trump said during the campaign and his tweets which have been a major part of his "fake news." What he does value is placing blame on every one but himself.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Moscow has failed to live up to its obligations under a 2013 agreement to strip Syria of its chemical weapons and if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken. Will the Trump administration live up to those words and take action against Russia? Don't hold your breath for a military response.
Stay tuned for Part III
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
If all that sounds familiar its because you heard and read it all before 14 years ago from the same news media when President George W. Bush launched his attack and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist. Elements of the news media announced that Bush and Cheney planned to take out 5 countries in the region starting with Iraq but the so called "cake walk" in Iraq pushed all that aside. "Fake news" was alive 14 years ago courtesy of the Bush administration and the news media. And the most silly part of the "fake news" was that Iraq was a threat to the national security of the United States which Bush and Cheney said over and over again.
As of this writing there is no official report of the intelligence community that has positively identified Assad and or Syria as the entity who carried out the chemical attack. The anti Syrian rebels, ISIS and Al Queda have all operated in the area of the chemical attack according to reports and all three have the capabilities of putting together chemical weapons and using them. All three also would like to see Assad removed from power. That would be a powerful motive to try and suck the U.S. into removing Assad by blaming him for the chemical attack.
A legitimate question to ask would be did the President order the strike against Syria because of his low poll ratings and other problems he and his administration are having. After all, Trump tweeted this in 2012 concerning President Obama, Lybia and Iran: NOW THAT OBAMA'S POLL NUMBERS ARE IN A TAILSPIN - WATCH FOR HIM TO LAUNCH A STRIKE IN LYBIA OR IRAN. HE IS DESPERATE. So that kind of thinking was on Donald Trumps mind. Was he himself a desperate President when he made the decision to launch? Another question to be asked: Did President Trump try to act tough by striking Syria, an ally of Russia to derail the FBI and congressional investigations of the possible collusion of Trump and his campaign with Russia?
The news media failed its obligation to search for the truth in the run up to war with Iraq 14 years ago. And today their early reports on the Syria attack are repeating the mistakes of the past. Trump said our decisions will be guided by our values. That statement contradicts every thing Trump said during the campaign and his tweets which have been a major part of his "fake news." What he does value is placing blame on every one but himself.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Moscow has failed to live up to its obligations under a 2013 agreement to strip Syria of its chemical weapons and if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken. Will the Trump administration live up to those words and take action against Russia? Don't hold your breath for a military response.
Stay tuned for Part III
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Part I: The United States Launches Air Strike on Syria
President Trump announced the air strike against the Syrian military air field on Thursday night April 6 in response to the alleged chemical attack by Syria that reportedly killed 70 plus people, including children. This commentary will be a three part series to explore with its readers the possibility of understanding what really took place here, what was said by the President and others in his administration, members of congress and the news media. Facts have to be separated from fiction and similar events of the past will be explored that should help the reader to stay focused on how this operation turns out.
The attack was said to have destroyed elements of Syria's air field, the runway, Syrian Jets and other war making capabilities of the Syrian military. One would think that is what 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of doing so there is no surprise there. The administration and our military said the attack was a success. The real questions that needs to be answered are ones that only time can confirm. That is, will the military strike change what is going on in Syria to any degree. Will it bring about the exit of Syria's brutal President Assad? Will it have any bearing on the civil war that has been going on in Syria? Will it bring about a real settlement? If nothing changes and the U.S. has to increase its involvement, will the attack still be looked upon as a success story?
Trump blamed President Obama for last weeks chemical attack but the fact of the matter tells us the attack happened on President Trump's watch. And like other false stories the administration is trying to spin President Obama did seek congressional authority to use force after Syria's chemical attack in 2013 and congress failed to act. In fact this is what Trump tweeted on August 29, 2013. WHAT WILL WE GET FOR BOMBING SYRIA BESIDES MORE DEBT AND A POSSIBLE LONG TERM CONFLICT/ OBAMA NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. (End of tweet)
Civilian Trump, candidate Trump and President Trump has been all over the place with his pronouncements on Syria and changed again just this week after Syria's use of chemical weapons. As a civilian, Trump said President Obama needed congressional approval to strike Syria. As President,Trump said he did not need congress approval to strike Syria. Maybe it was Trump's many different positions on Syria that prompted Syria to do what it did. Syria never used chemical weapons again onPresident Obama's watch after the attack in 2013. It should be noted that 1400 people were killed in the chemical attack in 2013 including children. That is 20 times as many that were killed last week in Syria, but that did not change Trump's opinion of Syria and Assad in 2013.
A very note worthy story unfolded several hours before Trump made the announcement that the U.S. launched an attack against Syria. Hillary Clinton speaking at the "Women In The World Summit" in New York told her audience the U.S. should attack Syria's military airfield in answer to Syria's chemical attack. She also said a no fly zone should be established in Syria to keep Syrian aircraft on the ground. That was her position in the debates and during the campaign. I wonder if Trumped obtained a copy of Hillary's speech or tapped into her phone before he ordered the attack hours later. A Clinton Presidency may have made a difference because she had a plan and knew what she wanted to do concerning Syria.
Stay tuned for part II.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The attack was said to have destroyed elements of Syria's air field, the runway, Syrian Jets and other war making capabilities of the Syrian military. One would think that is what 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of doing so there is no surprise there. The administration and our military said the attack was a success. The real questions that needs to be answered are ones that only time can confirm. That is, will the military strike change what is going on in Syria to any degree. Will it bring about the exit of Syria's brutal President Assad? Will it have any bearing on the civil war that has been going on in Syria? Will it bring about a real settlement? If nothing changes and the U.S. has to increase its involvement, will the attack still be looked upon as a success story?
Trump blamed President Obama for last weeks chemical attack but the fact of the matter tells us the attack happened on President Trump's watch. And like other false stories the administration is trying to spin President Obama did seek congressional authority to use force after Syria's chemical attack in 2013 and congress failed to act. In fact this is what Trump tweeted on August 29, 2013. WHAT WILL WE GET FOR BOMBING SYRIA BESIDES MORE DEBT AND A POSSIBLE LONG TERM CONFLICT/ OBAMA NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. (End of tweet)
Civilian Trump, candidate Trump and President Trump has been all over the place with his pronouncements on Syria and changed again just this week after Syria's use of chemical weapons. As a civilian, Trump said President Obama needed congressional approval to strike Syria. As President,Trump said he did not need congress approval to strike Syria. Maybe it was Trump's many different positions on Syria that prompted Syria to do what it did. Syria never used chemical weapons again onPresident Obama's watch after the attack in 2013. It should be noted that 1400 people were killed in the chemical attack in 2013 including children. That is 20 times as many that were killed last week in Syria, but that did not change Trump's opinion of Syria and Assad in 2013.
A very note worthy story unfolded several hours before Trump made the announcement that the U.S. launched an attack against Syria. Hillary Clinton speaking at the "Women In The World Summit" in New York told her audience the U.S. should attack Syria's military airfield in answer to Syria's chemical attack. She also said a no fly zone should be established in Syria to keep Syrian aircraft on the ground. That was her position in the debates and during the campaign. I wonder if Trumped obtained a copy of Hillary's speech or tapped into her phone before he ordered the attack hours later. A Clinton Presidency may have made a difference because she had a plan and knew what she wanted to do concerning Syria.
Stay tuned for part II.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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