JUST the Stolen Documents/Mar-A-Lago/"Judge" Cannon Trial

[old salt]

Can any of the old guard here report if they every voted while abroad?

3.2 million military personnel voted during World War II in the 1944 presidential election from overseas.

They voted .... by mail.

Seems to me that this has always been a common and valid practice.

I voted by absentee ballot for the first 23 years I was eligible to vote. Mailed from ships & bases around the world.

It required much more effort then, on the part of the service member to register & get the ballot in time to complete it & return it in time.

[CU88]

Can any of the old guard here report if they every voted while abroad?

3.2 million military personnel voted during World War II in the 1944 presidential election from overseas.

They voted .... by mail.

Seems to me that this has always been a common and valid practice.

I voted by absentee ballot for the first 23 years I was eligible to vote. Mailed from ships & bases around the world.

It required much more effort then, on the part of the service member to register & get the ballot in time to complete it & return it in time.

Thanks for the info.

[old salt]

NSA O'Brien states the Trump Doctrine rationale for upcoming drawdown of US forces in Germany

Why the U.S. Is Moving Troops Out of Germany
Forces are needed in the Indo-Pacific. And Berlin should contribute more to European security.
By Robert C. O’Brien
June 21, 2020

To counter China and Russia, two great-power competitors, U.S. forces must be deployed abroad in a more forward and expeditionary manner than they have been in recent years. This is the main reason the U.S. will reduce its permanently stationed force in Germany from 34,500 troops to 25,000.

President Trump confirmed the plans on June 15, but details remain under development and no formal public announcement has been made. The secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are working diligently to provide the president with options to carry out this plan.

The Cold War practice of garrisoning large numbers of troops with their families on massive bases in places like Germany is now, in part, obsolete. Modern warfare is increasingly expeditionary and requires platforms with extended range, flexibility and endurance. While air bases and logistics hubs remain important, the Cold War-style garrisoning of troops makes less military and fiscal sense than it did in the 1970s.

Several thousand troops currently assigned to Germany may be reassigned to other countries in Europe. Thousands may expect to redeploy to the Indo-Pacific, where the U.S. maintains a military presence in Guam, Hawaii, Alaska and Japan, as well as deployments in locations like Australia. In that theater, Americans and allies face the most significant geopolitical challenge since the end of the Cold War. And the remainder will return to bases in the U.S.

After these redeployments, America will still maintain 25,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in Germany. The U.S. relationship with Germany will remain strong, as will American commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is time, however, for all European nations to contribute their fair share in defending their homelands. Germany has the world’s fourth-largest economy yet spends only 1.4% of gross domestic product on its own defense—despite NATO member countries’ longstanding commitment to a 2% target. American taxpayers contribute 3.4% of GDP toward defense.

Since Mr. Trump took office, NATO allies have increased defense spending substantially, by $130 billion through 2020. Burden-sharing has reinvigorated the NATO alliance, bolstering its mission of defending Europe and North America from external threats while also playing a constructive role in hot spots such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Berlin still has time to step up and show leadership. The Russian-German Nord Stream 2 pipeline isn’t complete; a German decision to stop the project would strengthen Europe’s energy security. Berlin hasn’t yet selected its 5G telecommunications provider. A trusted European company, such as Nokia or Ericsson, would be safer for this role than China’s Huawei. And Germany can accelerate its plan to harden its defenses, which would more than offset U.S. troop redeployment.

Under Mr. Trump’s leadership, America continues to lead the free world. The U.S. military’s global posture demonstrates this commitment and provides the maximum security for the American people.

[youthathletics]

Reminder, why loose lips, sink ships.

#OTD 1943, Rep. Andrew May bragged to reporters that the Japanese were setting their depth charges too shallow because they didn't know how deep U.S. subs could dive. VADM Charles Lockwood said the revelation caused the Japanese to adjust, costing the Navy 10 subs and 800 sailors.

[old salt]

Watch what happens with Poland. If Trump follows through with rotational deployments of a second Armored Brigade Combat Team, plus all the other moves into Poland, combined with re-establishment of the Army's V Corps, it represents an increase in US combat power dedicated to NATO, positioned close to the choke point of a Russian incursion. If we retain our Ramstein air hub, our hospital in Landstuhl & our massive training range complex at Grafenwohr. All our drawdown in Germany is doing is shifting combat forces eastward & committing to larger continuous forward deployments, as needed.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pent ... sh-leader/

...for now the discussions will not include the possible move of troops from Germany to Poland. Those will occur once “final determinations are made” on troop levels in Germany, senior officials said.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump confirmed rumored plans to draw down American military personnel levels in Germany in coming months, stating that the NATO ally has been “delinquent in their payments” to the security alliance.

Trump did not announce any specific numbers. But on Sunday, in an essay for the Wall Street Journal, White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said the U.S. will reduce its permanently stationed force in Germany from 34,500 troops to 25,000.

“The Cold War practice of garrisoning large numbers of troops with their families on massive bases in places like Germany is now, in part, obsolete,” he wrote.

“Modern warfare is increasingly expeditionary and requires platforms with extended range, flexibility and endurance. While air bases and logistics hubs remain important, the Cold War-style garrisoning of troops makes less military and fiscal sense than it did in the 1970s.”

Troops currently assigned to Germany may be reassigned to other countries in Europe, the Pacific, Australia or U.S. locations, O’Brien wrote. Pentagon officials are still finalizing details of the plan

Poland has been viewed as one of the potential landing spots, given its proximity and recent increases in defense spending.

https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/com ... nato-ally/

Poland is becoming America’s key NATO ally

Following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine, the U.S. began a process of returning military forces to Europe and pressing its NATO allies to increase their defense expenditures and armed forces. More than 20 years after the end of the Cold War, many issues that were assumed to be settled needed to be readdressed. Where would additional U.S. forces be deployed? Which NATO allies could be counted on to up their defense game? How could NATO best protect its eastern flank abutting Russia?

Increasingly, the answer to many of these questions is Poland.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO essentially stopped worrying about deterring high-end threats, and many members reduced their defense budgets as a result. U.S. ground forces in Europe declined to just two relatively weak brigade combat teams. Other NATO countries ended conscription, shrunk their military establishments and allowed much of their equipment to age badly. In addition, NATO stopped practicing many of the maneuvers that would be critical to an effective defense of Europe, such as the movement of large-scale reinforcement throughout the continent.

West Germany was once the centerpiece of NATO’s anti-Soviet defense and host to hundreds of thousands of U.S. and Allied forces. Today that role is increasingly assumed by Poland, one of the most stalwart members of the alliance. It is one of only six countries to meet NATO’s goal of spending 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense, has welcomed U.S. forces returning to Europe, and has undertaken a serious and sustained program of military modernization.

As part of the overall global buildup of U.S. military capabilities, the U.S. Army has begun rotational deployments of an armored brigade combat team, or ABCT, to Poland. Last year, the Pentagon decided to expand this effort with a forward-deployed division headquarters, pre-positioned equipment for a second ABCT, logistics units and an MQ-9 Reaper drone squadron located in that country.

As NATO banks on Poland, is the country becoming the new face of a nervous Europe?
NATO plans to turn a town in central Poland into a key storage hub for U.S. combat equipment.

Over time, the plan is to create the infrastructure to support the rotational deployment of two ABCTs, plus additional combat enablers, including both aviation forces and long-range fires.

Just last week, the U.S. Army decided to reactivate its V Corps and return part of it to an as-yet undetermined location in Europe. It would make tremendous sense to locate that corps headquarters in Poland alongside the majority of U.S. Army forces operating in Europe. It would also be an important symbolic step, as V Corps was one of two heavy formations positioned in Germany for most of the Cold War. Most importantly, deploying a corps helps ensure that the U.S. Army can conduct an effective defense against large-sale conventional aggression.

Poland is more than just a good host for U.S. forces. It has committed to spending billions of dollars to create the infrastructure to support the additional U.S. deployments.

No NATO ally has done more to improve its defensive posture and to support the return of U.S. forces to Europe than Poland. In addition to meeting its 2 percent obligation, Poland has taken seriously the need to upgrade and replace aging Cold War-era Soviet equipment with modern Western systems.

Last year, Warsaw issued a new Technical Modernization Plan for 2026 that commits to spending nearly $50 billion on fifth-generation fighter jets, UAVs, assault helicopters, short-range rockets, submarines and cybersecurity.

Poland is an important purchaser of U.S. military equipment. Warsaw plans on acquiring up to eight Patriot air defense batteries. Since the end of the Cold War, the Polish Air Force has been transitioning from Soviet-era platforms to largely U.S.-made aircraft, beginning with the acquisition of 48 F-16s.

In January, Poland signed a multibillion-dollar deal to purchase 32 F-35A fighter jets, thereby vaulting itself into the ranks of NATO’s premier air forces.

Given the presence of U.S. armored formations in Poland, Warsaw should consider acquiring the M-1 Abrams to replace its obsolescent Russian-made tanks.

Poland will be a major host for NATO’s largest modern-day military exercises. Defender 2020 will deploy a full U.S. heavy division of more than 20,000 troops in Europe, including an entire brigade combat team and their personnel. This force will then conduct complex maneuvers in Poland alongside allied formations. Defender 2020 is intended to test all the capabilities, policies and procedures related to the rapid reinforcement of NATO.

Geography dictates that Poland play a leading role in NATO’s defense plans. Warsaw recognizes its place as the centerpiece of the alliance’s defense line vis-a-vis Russia. But Poland is much more than a passive player. It wants to punch at or even above its weight among NATO members. The U.S. government should do whatever it can to help the Polish military reach its modernization objectives.

The recalcitrance of our wealthiest NATO ally :
https://warontherocks.com/2019/06/expla ... ic-debate/
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... ing-110696

[CU88]

Judge Jackson issues an order in Roger Stone case instructing DOJ to explain by tomorrow its policy for how it has handed COVID-19 concerns for anyone set to start a prison sentence, as well as motions like the one Stone made yesterday seeking a delay b/c of the virus.

[njbill]

The prison Stone has been assigned to has no Covid positive inmates or employees. There are some outstanding tests, however. Judge Jackson’s order also directs the prison system to report back by tomorrow on any results from these pending test.

I suspect she is simply dotting her I’s and crossing her T’s with respect to Stone.

If she denies his request, he can appeal. Bill Barr can intercede. As a last resort, Trump can pardon him.

I’d be surprised if Stone actually gets put in jail, notwithstanding that he should be.

[CU88]

The prison Stone has been assigned to has no Covid positive inmates or employees. There are some outstanding tests, however. Judge Jackson’s order also directs the prison system to report back by tomorrow on any results from these pending test.

I suspect she is simply dotting her I’s and crossing her T’s with respect to Stone.

If she denies his request, he can appeal. Bill Barr can intercede. As a last resort, Trump can pardon him.

I’d be surprised if Stone actually gets put in jail, notwithstanding that he should be.

I agree, he never steps foot inside a cell.

Honestly, if o d says no need to wear a mask and all of the r's here say the COVID-19 is just a flu; what is the big deal???

[njbill]

Maybe Roger can get one of those air freshener machines Trump “used” yesterday installed in his cell.

[old salt]

Ick ! What does Roger Stone have to do with national security ?
Why clutter up this substantive thread ? You guys have lost situational awareness.
If you wish to troll me on Flynn, kindly do so in the Deep State thread.

[old salt]

Here's a guess on the possible Germany --> Poland shuffle of US forces, based on the below hint.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa- ... SKBN23V2PP

According to Polish media reports, the United States could offer 2,000 soldiers to Poland, 1,000 more than initially agreed in June 2019. Those additional troops would include the U.S. Army V Corps from Kentucky and F-16s from Germany.

Another official with knowledge of the talks told Reuters that moving the V Corps to Poland was under discussion and that Poland could get more than the 1,000 troops agreed to last year, but would not say if 2,000 would be sent.

Disestablish the USAF F-16 squadron home based at Spangdahlem AB in Germany.
Germany maintains Spangdahlem ready to host deployments of stateside USAF or Air National Guard (ANG) F-15/16/35 's in a NATO contingency. Rotate smaller deployments of F-16's from stateside USAF &/or ANG squadrons to the Polish air bases at Poznan &/or Lash which are home base to Polish F-16's (for now, switching to F-35's in the future).

Locate in Poland the European portion of the US Army's newly re-established V Corps HQ (Ft Knox).

This would represent an overall increase of dedicated US combat power based on NATO soil. It's just pushing more of it closer to Russia & the E front, from Germany into Poland. Our legacy Cold War force disposition was still based on defending the Fulda Gap in Germany. This positions our forces to defend the Suwalky Gap in Poland. We're still treaty limited on the total number of forces we can permanently station in former Warsaw Pact nations so we increase the number of rotations of forces deployed (9 mos) from US based units.

Trump's message to the German's :
https://www.dw.com/en/donald-trump-us-w ... a-53932628

[Kismet]

"BREAKING - Sensors in Sweden have detected a rise in nuclear particles from somewhere near on or near the Baltic Sea. The Stockholm monitoring station detected 3isotopes; Cs-134, Cs-137 & Ru-103 associated with nuclear fission at higher than usual levels."

[njbill]

I hope Vlad tells Trump quickly what he should say about this.

There are only two people who are allowed to interrupt Trump’s golf game, Vlad and Ivanka.

[Typical Lax Dad]

MAGA

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-co ... -us-troops

[CU77]

MAGA

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-co ... -us-troops

Top conservatives demand answers on reports Russia paid Taliban to kill US troops

Well Trump has the answers!

Trump Says ‘Nobody Briefed Or Told Me’ About Russian Bounties To Kill U.S. Soldiers

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-ru ... ab2842e8e9

schultz-300x225.jpg (14.83 KiB) Viewed 778 times

Looking forward to watching o.s. spin this.

[CU88]

NATIONAL SECURITY
Trump Says He Was Not Briefed On Russian Bounties Because Intelligence 'Not Credible'
June 28, 20201:41 PM ET

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/28/88440757 ... u-s-troops



Sean Patrick Maloney @RepSeanMaloney

I was White House Staff Sec’y. Every document that goes to POTUS is literally stamped “The President Has Seen” and a record is kept. So, let the briefing docs testify.

He knew and didn't care.

And spent the weekend golfing...

[Typical Lax Dad]

MAGA

[Typical Lax Dad]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/29/iran-is ... imani.html

[CU88]

Michael R. Bromwich @mrbromwich

Yes, after two exhausting days of investigation on the golf course, @realDonaldTrump has cracked the case of the Russia bounty payments.
It's another hoax perpetrated by those devious hoaxsters at NY Times Books!

[kramerica.inc]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/29/iran-is ... imani.html

Poor warlord.

Trump, however, is in no danger of arrest and it’s highly unlikely Interpol would honor Iran’s request, as the international agency’s guidelines forbid it from “undertaking any intervention or activities of a political” nature.