Why Are So Many US Leaders Staying Silent as Musk and Trump Entrench [sic] Their Power?

Source: Common Dreams
by Ralph Nader

“There are reasons why influential or knowledgeable Americans are staying silent as the worsening fascist dictatorship of the Trumpsters and Musketeers gets more entrenched by the day. Most of these reasons are simple cover for cowardice. Start with the once-powerful Bush family dynasty. They despise President Donald Trump as he does them. Rich and comfortable former President George W. Bush is very proud of his administration’s funding of AIDS medicines saving lives in Africa and elsewhere. Trump, driven by vengeance and megalomania, moved immediately to dismantle this program. Immediate harm commenced to millions of victims in Africa and elsewhere who are reliant on this U.S. assistance (including programs to lessen the health toll on people afflicted by tuberculosis and malaria).” [editor’s note: Ralph seems have gone over senility edge at last – SAT] (03/15/25)

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/us-leaders-silent-trump

Russian, Ukrainian forces trade overnight aerial attacks after Putin sets out conditions for ceasefire

Source: SFGate

“Russia and Ukraine traded heavy aerial blows overnight, with both sides on Saturday reporting more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories. The attacks comes less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine. Putin told a press conference on Thursday that he supported a truce in principle but set out a host of details that need to be clarified before it is agreed. Kyiv has already endorsed the truce proposal, although Ukrainian officials have publicly raised doubts as to whether Moscow will commit to such a deal.” (03/15/25)

https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/russia-and-ukraine-launch-aerial-attacks-amid-20223045.php

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil is an affront to free speech

Source: spiked
by Wendy Kaminer

“Sadly, this needs to be said – the First Amendment protects the right to engage in anti-American and pro-Hamas speech and to protest against government policy in the Middle East, extravagantly and even with anti-Semitic fervour. To suggest otherwise is to engage in right-wing wokeism, conditioning speech rights on inoffensiveness.” (03/15/25)

https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/03/15/the-arrest-of-mahmoud-khalil-is-an-affront-to-free-speech/

Palestine: Israeli strikes kill 14 people in Gaza over past day, Palestinian medics say

Source: Reuters

“Israeli military strikes have killed at least 14 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, the enclave’s Health Ministry said on Sunday, as Arab and U.S. mediators work to shore up a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Palestinian officials say dozens of people have been killed by Israeli fire despite the January 19 truce that halted large-scale fighting in Gaza. Israel’s military has said its forces have intervened to thwart threats by ‘terrorists’ approaching its troops or planting bombs since the ceasefire took effect. Gaza’s Health Ministry said most of the latest deaths took place on Saturday when an Israeli airstrike killed nine Palestinians including four journalists in the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.” (03/16/25)

https://archive.is/SOE5a

Appeasement Is Failing: Why Fighting Back Against Trump Is The Only Option

Source: The Intercept
by Jessica Washington

“Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., capitulated to President Donald Trump and the GOP over the budget this week, sacrificing one of Democrats’ last pieces of leverage as Trump bulldozes the federal government and jails activists. Schumer defended voting yes on the GOP budget that would neuter the legislative branch, arguing that he had no choice but to give in or face a government shutdown. He’s not the first to make that kind of decision. Leaders of businesses, universities, and nations across the globe face the same question: Should they fight Trump, or hope that by giving him what he wants he’ll somehow do less harm? Far too often, these leaders have chosen appeasement over resistance — and, in return, gotten nothing.” (03/15/25)

https://theintercept.com/2025/03/15/appeasing-trump-doesnt-work/

Trump Destroyed America’s Relationship with Canada

Source: The American Conservative
by Ted Snider

“Living on the other side of the longest undefended border in the world from their superpower neighbor has created a paradox in Canadians’ national identity. Canadians are not Americans. They are different in ways that are central to their sense of who they are. At the same time, the two countries’ respective cultures, sports, music, movies, television, literature, economies, and militaries are so integrated as to be inseparable. For longer than living memory, Canadians have seen the U.S. as more than the closest of allies. America has been Canada’s closest partner and friend. Donald Trump has destroyed that in less than two months.” (03/14/25)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/trump-destroyed-americas-relationship-with-canada/

The Trump/Johnson/Thune budget victory

Source: Fox News
by Newt Gingrich

“The passage of the continuing resolution to keep the government open was a remarkable example of the revolutionary movement through which we are living. Traditionally, a continuing resolution requires a bipartisan agreement to get through the Senate. Republican leaders meet with Democratic leaders to discuss it. And the continuing resolution becomes far more expensive – and gains a lot more ideological language. After the 2024 election, many supposed experts said that President Donald Trump would have a hard time getting legislation through the extraordinarily narrow House Republican majority – or past the Senate’s 60-vote threshold. The House Republicans have been in turmoil for a decade.” [editor’s note: It is amusing to see Gingrich celebrate the continuance of Biden’s spending levels, in order not to shut down the bloated government – SAT] (03/15/25)

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/newt-gingrich-trump-johnson-thune-budget-victory

Starmer: Military planning for Ukraine peace to begin

Source: BBC News [UK State Media]

“Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said military planning to protect a potential Ukraine ceasefire is moving ‘to an operational phase’ after a virtual meeting with 29 other world leaders. Military leaders will meet in London on Thursday ‘to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine’s future security,’ Sir Keir said. The meeting follows Ukraine agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire after talks with the US. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agrees with the idea, but set a number of pre-conditions for peace. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who joined Saturday’s meeting, said ‘active pressure is needed, not just talks.’ ‘The world must understand that Russia is the only obstacle preventing peace,’ he said.” (03/15/25)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ymrz8d21yo