The FBI and Department of Justice Assert The Jeffery Epstein Client List Does Not Exist

 

The FBI and Department of Justice announced that the Epstein client list does not exist. To the general public, this seems difficult to believe. For decades Jeffery Epstein had been engaging in sexual violence with the help of  Ghislaine Maxwell. The crimes and number of victims would indicate that both had to keep track of individuals who were active on his properties. The possible explanations are cover-ups or destruction of evidence. The reason that the client list would be hidden is that it contains names of major political figures. Being a prominent financier, Epstein had access to a number of public figures. Politicians, celebrities, and numerous entertainers could have been on the client list. The case is not closed, because it just creates more questions. The video released of Epstein does not reveal much either. The assertion was that Epstein committed suicide. However, the bones broken in his neck did not appear to be caused by hanging. The only way to get answers would be to question Ghislaine Maxwell. Currently serving a 20 year prison sentence, she would have more information about Epstein's criminal activity. The Epstein case further demonstrates why the public does not trust law enforcement agencies. The protection of the upper class and wealthy elite shows how criminal justice is undermined. There could be more powerful public figures that have sex trafficking networks unknown to the public.  

Marine Le Pen Seeks To Appeal The Ban On Running For The French Presidency

 

Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement. She will not serve any prison time . Two of the custody detainments are suspended, while the other two years will be a status of house arrest. This will require the use of an electronic tag .  Instead Marine Le Pen is prohibited from running in the next French presidential election. The misuse of European Union funds is a serious charge, but the ban on political office is has indications of political partisan motivations. If  Marine Le Pen was such a threat, a harsher prison sentence would have been imposed. The fact that individuals of such a corrupt nature can reach that level demonstrates the weakness of  the European liberal democratic system. This also has another negative consequence. Leaders are going to criminalize their political opponents on both the left and right. As Europe struggles economically, more are going to favor the conservative and far-right political factions. Suppressing political figures or movements is not going to defeat extremist elements within France. Marine Le Pen is seeking an appeal. It is dubious if the ruling can be overturned by 2027. Every attempt Le Pen made to be elected president she failed. The motivation to disqualify her now, might be due to the possibility Le Pen could win. A small number of Le Pen's political competitors also expressed concerns about the ruling. The National Rally Party is going to plot reprisals in reaction to this verdict. The appeals process is going to have legal complexities and opens the debate about the law in relation to political figures. 

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Rodrigo Duterte Has Been Arrested

 

The former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested. The ICC issued a warrant related to drug trafficking charges. The warrant also changes the former president with directing the Davao Death Squad. The ICC claims that a thousand people could have been killed. The International Criminal Court's motives are not entirely altruistic. Certain countries are exempt from punishment, when there is evidence for human rights violations and crimes against humanity. Particular leaders are targeted in Asia and Africa, European leaders rarely are charged.  The question of jurisdiction is another concern. The Philippines is no longer an ICC member. The country withdrew in 2019. This brings into question the legality of this arrest. The ICC asserts that crimes committed when membership was active can still be prosecuted.  The argument is that the crimes were committed when the Philippines were part of the ICC. The war on drugs in the Philippines continues to have devasting social effects. It enabled law enforcement to engage in various acts of abuse and violence. The Davao Death Squad remains notorious for multiple killings. The ICC accuses the former president of direct involvement of DDS operations. According to Vice President Sara Duterte the former president was forced onto a plane and sent to the Hague. The domestic motivation is clear. Elections are coming up in the Philippines and Duterte was involved in political campaigning. There is a dispute between the Duterte and the Marcos family who want to dominate the politics of the Philippines. This arrest of a former Asian head of state will probably cause other countries to leave the ICC. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will most likely not try to stop an ICC trial of Rodrigo Duterte, because he is a political rival.       

Donald Trump, The Influence of Corporate Power, And The Corrupt System of American Politics

 Donald Trump became the second president to win non-consecutive terms. This so far, only happened with President Grover Cleveland in 1892. The US presidential election of 2024 was unlike any other. President Biden was forced out of the race over concerns about his cognitive health. Although Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are both senior citizens, Biden's age became a topic of discussion. The first presidential debate was held before Biden and Trump were made official nominees of their political parties. The error was having President Joseph Biden debate that early. Donald Trump's return to the presidency was the outcome of the public's dissatisfaction with the Biden administration. Kamala Harris replaced Biden, but did not distance herself from his policies. Worsening economic conditions, concerns about immigration, and interventionist foreign policy caused President Biden to slip in the polls. Donald Trump was able to exploit discord, resentment, and disillusioned individuals. Voters who were once Democrats decided to vote for Donald Trump. Libertarians, anti-political establishment voters, and far-right factions  are a part of the Trump base. Elon Musk used his resources to assist the Trump campaign. The unusual coalition of groups elected him president both in 2016 and 2024. Donald Trump's loss in 2020 was due to the inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The election of Joseph Biden was an attempt to go back to a form of normalcy. Instead Americans were faced with inflation, the consequences of escalating the Russia-Ukraine War, and a growing housing crisis. Donald Trump would have never been able to win, if the Biden administration was able to address dire issues. Donald Trump's election in 2024 demonstrates corporate power has an abnormal amount of influence in American politics. Billionaires have  created an oligarchy, which only has some institutions of a liberal democratic structure. Donald Trump has been presented as a unique threat by the political establishment. The exaggeration ignores the fact that both political parties are beholden to the business elite, special interest groups, and a number of lobbies. Donald Trump demonized not because of his corruption or crimes, rather he ruined the mythical image honest government. American politics is  a corrupt system, yet many want to believe it can be reformed or used for revolutionary change. The Donald Trump presidency dismantled these long held American convictions. 

      Donald Trump built his wealth through real estate. It was 1976 when the Trump Organization did its major construction project. The renovation of the Commodore Hotel in New York, New York was the beginning of Trump's business career. The United States during this period was in a state of political doubt. The defeat in the Vietnam War and Watergate generated much discord in the American public. The United States was facing an energy crisis, which the Carter administration struggled to control. The economic condition was that of recession between the 1973 and 1975. The desire to see economic prosperity on the scale of the 1950s was desirable. Donald Trump took advantage of the political and economic shifts during the 1970s and 1980s. Donald Trump and the other corporate figures of real estate were  the forces behind gentrification. Manhattan was a specific target of pushing low income residents to other areas. When Ronald Reagan was elected president, a policy objective was to deregulate various industries. Simultaneously, housing subsidies were cut. The Regan administration's supply side economic policies enabled Donald Trump to expand his wealth.  This began a pattern of Donald Trump not paying taxes based on his income. The Trump Organization was not paying the proper amount of taxes. It was only in 2022 that the Trump Organization was convicted of criminal tax fraud. Corporations and the CEOs avoid any serious punishment. The Trump Organization's criminal behavior is common among large corporations. The influence of corporate power grew so much in the 1990s, it eclipsed political power. Both the Democratic and Republican Party became dependent on campaign donations from corporations. This phenomenon paralleled the monopoly trusts of the early 20th century. At the time, oil and steel were two immense trusts in the US economy. Figures like John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan were despised for their domination of business. The Theodore Roosevelt administration set about challenging corporate power by breaking up monopolies. Trust busting was the only time in US history in which corporate power was challenged effectively.     

By the late 20th century, the government was collaborating with corporate power. The environment allowed Donald Trump to rise as a public figure. Prior to his entry into politics, he would meet with various politicians  and celebrities. Donald Trump cultivated an image as being different from other corporate leaders. He did not present himself as hostile to the political establishment, rather an ambassador. This disguised a more malevolent nature. Trump's race prejudice, poor treatment of his employees, and unethical business practices were not subject to scrutiny prior to 2016. Corporate power was not only enabled by Republicans, but by the New Democrats with the election of William Jefferson Clinton. Accommodating corporate power, meant abandoning working class concerns. The shift was to focusing on the middle class and accommodating the business elite resulted in negative consequences. The cost of living increased, while wages remained stagnant. Attaining a middle class or financially secure status  was out of reach for most Americans. Donald Trump has done several business ventures. Casinos, gold courses, and a  recent venture into cryptocurrency shows profit motive drives Trump's ambitions. Politics is another business project to enrich himself. Corporate power is no longer operating in a furtive manner. Corporate power over the past 50 years has been pushing for an oligarchic system. Neither political party would challenge this , because the preservation of neoliberal capitalism is more important than a democratic government. 

      Corruption has been a part of American politics throughout its history. Attempts at reform are not successful. Campaign finance reform is discussed, but no substantive action is taken. Presidential campaigns now boast about how much money they raise. Egregious to most of the public, candidates for public office will not attack the practice publicly. Money continues to corrupt a fragile republic. Donald Trump was able to use some campaign funds to pay for legal expenses. A number of lawsuits were directed at him between 2022 and 2023. Taking campaign funds to pay for legal expenses demonstrates the corrupt nature of American politics. Donations from voters and other organizations should be used for getting elected to office. Kamala Harris campaign generated a total of $1billion. Despite getting funds from other companies, her website was asking voters to donate money. This comes at a time when Americans struggle with inflation. After the loss of the 2024 election, Kamala was asking voters to donate to cover certain debts accumulated during the campaign. What can be speculated is the Kamala Harris campaign was spending more than they were supposed to. The irresponsible mismanagement of funds borders on embezzlement.  The existing laws are too weak or there remain loopholes that make it difficult to charge. Voter power is being undermined by not only the candidates, but by other entities. Political action committees, lobbies, and corporations have more control over the US  Congress . A Democratic or Republican running for president would be more responsive to these entities than the general public. The Israel-Gaza War made voters question Middle East policy. The desire for change related to the Israel-US relationship was expressed by various constituencies. Protests did not change the presidential candidates' positions on Israel. Both favored arming the country despite human rights violations and war crimes. The reason is that AIPAC maintains connections to both political parties. The healthcare system will not be improved for the reason of insurance company lobbies. Legislation is stopped before it is even voted on. Super PACs might not be able to directly contribute to a political party or candidate, however their funds make it easier for their agenda setting objective. Donald Trump's involvement in politics was a natural choice. The corporate world functions on a similar system of corruption, which is why Trump was able to get elected to the office. 

      The political establishment has a distain for Trump for a number of reasons. A political neophyte won the presidency twice. The second time was more irksome considering it happened with a number of lawsuits in progress. Donald Trump cannot be controlled nor does he adhere to Washington based norms. Donald Trump continues to remold the political landscape. While Donald Trump is not anti-war and expresses sympathy with imperialist views, he does not share the neoconservative foreign policy vision. The rise of the MAGA movement produced an unanticipated reaction. Neoconservative Republicans and political centrist Democrats formed an alliance, which was not possible in the 2000s. The Bush era was another period of extreme division. The Iraq War and the Afghan War split both political parties. Bipartisanship could not function under a Bush administration.   When voters went to the polls in 2008 and 2012, they hoped for genuine change. President Barack Obama was unsuccessful in addressing the economic challenges the population was facing. Discussion of change was not enough. When Donald Trump entered the race in 2016, he took a more vituperative and vexed tone. Donald Trump channeled the frustrations, fears, and sadness of  people who were left behind by globalization and neoliberal capitalism. Voters who selected Obama previously cast ballots for Trump. The group of former Democrat voters selecting Trump occurred in 2024. The public has felt that two party system is not working for them. Voting for Trump in 2016 was an act disappointment for those who desired a change to the American political system. The Democrats who voted for Trump in 2024 was rage directed at the poor performance by the Biden administration. The political establishment refused to acknowledge the changes domestically or on a global scale. Tactics that would have worked in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 were no loner relevant. The political establishment then cited that Donald Trump was a fascist or collaborating with the Russian Federation. These accusations are not credible criticisms. Donald Trump ended the INF Treaty which did not work in Russia's favor. Fascism is a right-wing political ideology that promotes aggressive nationalism. Donald Trump's racism is based on  paleoconservative   convictions closer to Pat Buchanan.. Donald Trump as authoritarian tendencies, but classifying him under a fascist totalitarian designation would not be correct. The political establishment is not concerned about rights or freedoms. The objective is to maintain the status quo. Some of the anti-Trump Republicans and moderate Democrats share some of his hatreds and xenophobic attitudes. Their repudiation of him is not for a noble cause, rather to maintain the myth of an honorable country. 

     Donald Trump was able to market himself and the MAGA movement. The Democratic Party does not have an adequate response to this. The politically motivated lawsuits such as the classified documents case and the inflated values of his real estate properties helped his presidential campaign. Rather than focus on serious issues, the conversation was shifted. Donald Trump switched the subject to the culture war and Kamala Harris turned to identity politics. The focus on Trans rights was mentioned in negative terms , while the opposing view was an emphasis on inclusion. Wokeness, cancel culture, or anti-SJW sentiment are not relevant to most people. These ideas and beliefs are pertinent to workplaces or entertainment. The culture war is not determining the status of the economy, employment levels, crime, immigration, or foreign policy. To an extent political correctness created an atmosphere for Donald Trump and the MAGA movement to rise. Certain subjects or topics were not meant to be discussed for the sake of preventing offense. What happened was that political correctness was being used to censor opinions or perspectives some did not want to hear. Immigration was one of those concerns. While particular comments can be rude  or insulting, people were being attacked for expressing a view that was not intended to be offensive. Political correctness was used to stifle expression of various opinions in public discourse. Donald Trump challenged this by being a vitriolic and vituperative. By marketing himself as being outrageous, Donald Trump was able to get more media attention.  Any other political figure if they expressed views in that manner would be repudiated. Donald Trump when he was host of The Apprentice  created  a public persona of churlish and unfiltered speaker. CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News only amplified this image. While Trump despises the corporate media, it is understood that it is platform for marketing himself. When Trump makes a statement and the media reacts it only empowers him. Annexing Greenland, taking the Panama Canal back,  or making Canada part of the US generated panic among corporate media circles. These events will not happen, but Trump understands that words have power. 

     Donald Trump now has another term as president. Some wonder of the current administration will be the same as the 2017 to 2020. Based on the first term and the current political conditions a general prediction can be made. Immigration is going to experience some crackdowns. However, the H-1B visa programs will not be effected. The reason is because corporations want to exploit a section of skilled immigrant labor. President Donald Trump might want mass deportations, but there are obstacles to this. Legal challenges are to be anticipated. The amount of spending required would be immense . This includes transportation, law enforcement, and detention centers need funding. The MAGA  movement is starting to show political factionalism. The H-1B visa support by Trump  vexed many in the MAGA movement. The populist and working class section is experiencing tension with the more wealthy influencers. Elon Musk represents this divide. The more working class section of MAGA is suspicious of the tech billionaires. The religious right remains with Trump, so long as he remains anti-LGBTQ. To placate that section of the constituency more anti-Trans legislation will be proposed. The actions done will not create complete unity in the MAGA movement. Although intolerant, the movement has assorted group of people. Donald Trump was able to gain more African American and Latino voters in 2024. The majority of African Americans have voted Democrat since the 1960s. Now that loyal base is shifting. The reason could be that Democrats took the African American vote for granted. The United States is going to be more paleoconservative and functioning on a xenophobic nativist model. Economics during this second term is going to follow supply-side policies. The Biden administration did not attempt to repeal the Trump era tax cuts. Increasing tariffs will not solve inflation or prevent an economic downturn. The only way tariffs could be effective is if the US had a powerful manufacturing base. Most of those occupations have been outsourced and the idea of brining manufacturing back is not possible. Economic conditions were on the decline with Biden, but will continue under Trump. Foreign policy might be different. President Trump implied he wants the Russia-Ukraine War to end. This does not mean that the US will completely disengage in Eastern Europe. Conflict with China, Venezuela, or Iran is possible. President Donald Trump has made enemies in both the Republican and Democratic Party. What President Trump  accomplishes is dependent on the House of Representatives and the Senate. His election is not the beginning of an oppressive regime. Donald Trump's rise was a culmination of America's hatreds, failed promises, and lies.      

Evo Morales Faces Legal Challenges

 

Evo Morales is facing legal challenges. A judge called for his arrest for alleged relationship with a teenage girl while president. Evo Morales was the first indigenous president of Bolivia. Seeking to run for office again, the courts are also trying to stop him. The timing of these cases appear to have a political motivation. Evo Morales is still a popular political figure in Bolivia. He was removed by a coup and the basis of removal was just an accusation of electoral fraud. The opposition did not provide evidence of Evo Morales doing anything criminal. Evo Morales is being targeted both by the coups and other nefarious actors. An assassination attempt was made on his life in 2024 . President Luis Arce  might be orchestrating a campaign of lawfare against Morales. Law enforcement so far has not enforced the warrant for his arrest. The changes of sex trafficking or sex with a minor would be difficult to prove in court. The victim did not bring the charges to the court, which makes the situation more suspicious. Political opponents are being criminalized. Evo Morales is determined to get the nomination as the MAS Party presidential candidate. The courts want to prevent him from getting a third term. Evo Morales had to go into exile in Argentina due to the political persecution. The outcome of the election is not certain. If Evo Morales can avoid being imprisoned by his political enemies, he has a chance to win the presidency.   

Zimbabwe Abolishes The Death Penalty

 

Zimbabwe has announced that it will no longer use the death penalty. This is a significant move related to human rights in the Southern African nation. Zimbabwe only has a total of 60 prisoners on death row. Zimbabwe only executed one prisoner in 2005. Zimbabwe does not favor capital punishment for a number of reasons. Executions are a reminder of the abuses of the white minority rule Rhodesian regime. Many lost their lives in the Bush War and wider liberation struggle. Capital punishment and executions were used against Zimbabweans to maintain colonial domination. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has voiced his rejection of the death penalty. During the liberation war, given the death penalty. The sentence was changed to ten years in prison, but some were not so fortunate. Zimbabwe has been criticized by the EU for  having a poor record on human rights. Just like the EU Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty. The criticisms of Zimbabwe are not out of genuine human rights promotion, rather a political agenda. African countries can advance human rights with out external advice or interference. Zimbabwe could inspire other African nations to ban capital punishment. Ghana, Kenya, and Liberia might be moving in this direction. President Mnangagawa signed the bill into law, preventing certain prisoners from being executed by the state.  

Hunter Biden Gets A Presidential Pardon

 

Hunter Biden has gotten a presidential pardon from the Biden administration. President Joseph Biden claimed that he would not give one to his son. The argument was that administration wants to respect the rule of law. This conviction does not apply to members of the Biden family. Hunter Biden has gun charges and has been accused of tax evasion. The criminal justice system favors the powerful, white, and elite class. The reversal was done most likely because of the incoming Trump administration. If Biden remained in the presidential race and won, Hunter Biden would not have faced punishment. Getting a pardon now ensures that Hunter would not face retaliation from the next administration. Hunter Biden might have information related to business operations in Ukraine, which President Biden does not want public. The Democratic Party has attempted to create an image of a humanitarian organization and those who believe in justice. Pardoning Hunter Biden shows a level corruption, white privilege, and criminality similar to that of the Trump administration. Political figures are above the law, but it also includes their families. The presidential pardon is gradually evolving to let criminals go free. The drug charges are the least egregious offense. The War on Drugs criminalized addiction, which is a psychological disorder. Hunter Biden not paying his taxes and business dealings in Ukraine are serious crimes. The US government has grown more corrupt from the presidency to the courts. Few  Democratic senators and congressional representatives have condemned the Hunter Biden pardon. Speculation has circulated that the pardon was done as an expression of anger for the Democratic Party removing Biden as the nominee. President Biden doing the pardon for his son puts the Democratic Party in an awkward  position. The contradiction is one that the Democratic Party will have to confront beyond 2024.   

Walter Cronkite Announces The Death of President John F. Kennedy

 

Walter Cronkite was the host of CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981. He went on air on November 22, 1963 to announce that President John F. Kennedy was dead. He was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. This news was the most shocking Walter Cronkite reported. Cronkite interviewed President Kennedy in September. During that interview, President Kennedy acknowledged that he was not really a popular figure in the South. The presidential election of 1964 was going to be a challenge. The reason was that the Kennedy administration was shifting its support to civil rights. This divided the Democratic Party. Southern Democrats favored segregation. President Kennedy going to Texas was a security risk for him. Going there was for the sake of Democratic Party unity for the election next year. The assassination happened 61 years ago and there remain unanswered questions. Walter Cronkite never challenged the findings of the Warren Commission. Cronkite never did a journalistic investigation into the matter. Although he was willing to discuss controversies surrounding the criminal investigation, CBS did not go further. Only speculation and theories exist about why President John F. Kennedy was killed. 

The Halloween Candy Poisoning Myth

 

The fear that people are passing out poisoned candy is a myth. Parents still are concerned about their children getting poisoned from Halloween candy. The only documented case of a child being killed by poisoned Halloween candy was in 1974. Ronald Clark O' Bryan murdered his son by contaminating his candy with cyanide. The motivation of Ronald Clark was to collect a life insurance policy worth $ 31,000. Law enforcement erroneously thought it was done by a stranger. Despite rare cases of children being poisoned during Halloween, the media created a panic. Parents became terrified, even if the criminal act was not by a random stranger. The majority of crimes that happen on Halloween are either theft or vandalism. Children are at low risk from harm. A random stranger would be caught if they attempted such an act. Assuming they are living at a permanent residence, all an investigator would need to to is retrace the steps of the homes visited. Depending on the number of homes visited it would a large number of suspects. The parents accompanying their children would have seen the faces of those distributing candy. Moral panics are a projection of   anxieties of the public. Regardless of facts, the public will be more responsive to sensationalist news reporting. The hysteria about poisoned candy relates to a myth about Halloween sadism. The myth claims that the holiday sees an increase in crime and depravity. Data does not show that more crime occurs on Halloween. The public continues to believe the Halloween candy poisoning myth, even though criminology discredits it.  

The Culprits Involved In The Trump Assassination Attempts

 

Former President Donald Trump has experienced two attempted assassinations. The culprits were Thomas Matthew Crooks and Ryan Routh. These two had no connection with one another. Thomas Crooks is more mysterious considering there is little information on him. So far, the FBI and Secret Service have not discovered a motive. The investigation is ongoing and Crooks was shot by Secret Service. Ryan Rough remains in custody after the assassination attempt in Florida. Ryan's motivation could be connected to his support for Ukraine. At onetime Routh was a supporter of Donald Trump. However, Rayan Routh became vexed that President Donald Trump was favoring ending the Russia-Ukraine War. Rough was active in recruiting fighters to the front in Eastern Europe. More information has to gathered as the case against Ryan Rough builds. Gun violence has become so prevalent presidential candidates cannot be protected. Despite this, neither candidate has proposed more strict gun control legislation. Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned during the debate that she owned a gun. This should have been condemned by gun  control activists. Ryan Rough had a criminal record and was still able to get firearms. Thomas Crooks did not have a criminal record, which made him harder to track. The assassination attempt would be his first and last crime. Political factionalism and vitriolic rhetoric is creating a dangerous atmosphere in American politics. Mass media also contributes to the growing distrust among American citizens. What Crooks knew it died with him. Ryan Routh will be undergoing a criminal interrogation. Routh's lawyers might try to use an insanity defense to avoid the death penalty or a long prison sentence. No trial date has been set.    

The Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Plea Deal

 

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has agreed to a plea deal. This was a person thought to be one of the masterminds behind the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The trial of Mohammed and his accomplices will not take place. If the plea deal remains in place they would remain in prison for life. The strange turn of events leaves some to ponder the reason for this choice. Either there was not enough evidence showing Mohammed masterminded the attacks or his connections could cause political tension with Middle Eastern countries. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Qatar could have connections to various terrorist organizations. Having Khalid Sheikh Mohammed speak could result in congressional hearings about US interference in both West and South Asia. It has been reported that the prisoners have been tortured. Both Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawasi  were allegedly tortured on black sites ran by the CIA. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed also was subject to this. The legal complication is if confessions were legitimate or forced due to constant violence. Forced confessions are not permissible as evidence of criminal activity. If these prisoners are guilty convicting them should not be difficult. The case is unlikely to be appealed. Some want to know the truth and how far the criminal conspiracy went. The case is still ongoing. The events related to the plea deal only show the fallacy of the War on Terror. The notion of a large network operating globally was a myth. The Bush administration used this idea of a massive terrorist organization to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. Blowback from destabilizing regions and  regime change only created more violence. Whatever Khalid Sheikh Mohammed knows, it will parish with him.  

O.J. Simpson Verdict (1995)

 

The O.J. Simpson trial captivated the American public. Media sensationalism prior and after the trial reached fanatic heights. O.J. Simpson was accused of the murder of Nicole Brown. His second wife was a victim of domestic violence. The athlete, actor, and sports broadcaster became infamous with the trial. This highlighted racial divisions in the United States. The Los Angeles Police Department's racism interfered with the murder case. That was used to discredit the prosecution. The media's racism depicted O.J. as an animal, who terrorized an innocent white woman. This racist trope was common in Reconstruction era America, but got a late 20th century update. So much focus on Nicole Brown, the media seemed to forget that Ron Goldman was murdered. The prosecution could not prove that O.J. Simpson murdered them and he was found not guilty. While most could deduce that O.J. was the culprit, the arguments were not persuasive enough to convince a jury. The verdict in many ways was vengeance for the Rodney King incident in 1992. King was beaten by a group of police officers and they were not charged. Criminal justice in America has either been biased or used to impose a racial caste system. The O.J. Simpson verdict demonstrated the favoritism that the famous and powerful get in a court of law. White rage about the verdict was a projection of racial animosity, rather than a concern about criminal justice. America lives in the illusion of a fair legal system. The O.J. Simpson trial will remain of interest to scholars of  jurisprudence and criminology.    

Imran Khan's Imprisonment

 

Pakistan is facing another political crisis. Imran Khan is now imprisoned on charges that observers believe has a political motivation. Removed from office in 2022, some would claim this was another coup. Pakistan has a long history of coups and Khan may have been victim to one. It is no coincidence that Nawaz Sharif has emerged. His intent is to form a coalition government. The Pakistan Tehreek -e-Insaf  Party is popular and polls predict a victory in the elections. Nawaz Sharif is favored by the military establishment and might intervene on his behalf. The Pakistan Muslim League needs a coalition to attain power. Even though other political parties and organizations are being suppressed, the PLM-N cannot assert full control. The Pakistan People's Party is also a major factor in elections. The two political dynasties which include the Sharifs and the Bhuttos are part of the political establishment. Keeping Khan imprisoned appears to be a means of stopping another political force emerging in the country. The Supreme Court should provide evidence and legal justifications for punishment. Otherwise Pakistan will resemble past military regimes . If Imran Khan were to be free, it is possible he could return to power. The military and Nawaz Sharif do not want him released, because Imran Khan would be a formidable political opponent. The dedication to the status quo has created more polarization in Pakistani society. Imran Khan's imprisonment is a reminder of how the military undermines the democratic institutions of Pakistan. 

Ecuador's Drug Gang War

 

Drug gangs are becoming more powerful in Latin America. The biggest gang Los Choneros has been responsible for car bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings. Much of the spike in violence comes from the shift in drug consumption and the reach of  other cartels from other countries. Peru and Columbia are the largest cocaine producers, but Ecuador was an area of drug transit. When FARC in Columbia demobilized a power void was created. Europe also wanted more drugs from the area. Smugglers saw a business opportunity in drug transit. Mexican and Venezuelan gangs began infiltration in the 2010s. Another powerful drug gang emerged known as Los Lobos. Both Los Choneros and Los Lobos are enemies. The two gangs have a hatred for government. The police are not able to fight all the factions. This is why the military is being deployed in certain regions. The war on drugs in Ecuador has become actual combat. The government has now declared that criminal gangs are terrorist organizations. What this means is the military will takeover more law enforcement duties. The concern becomes an increase in civilian death during anti-criminal gang operations. The military taking on a law enforcement role could open the path to authoritarianism. President Daniel Noboa's solution is to militarize law enforcement and build more prisons. The state of emergency that was declared is a potential threat to the civil liberties of the Ecuadorian citizen. El Salvador is also facing similar challenges. The result is more migration to from South America to North America. Ecuadorians at some point might have to flee the country due to internal armed conflict.    

Thaksin Shinawatra Returns To Thailand

 

The former prime minister has returned to Thailand. Thaksin Shinawatra has been in exile since the 2006 coup. Shortly after his arrival he was sent to prison. Reports now state that Thaksin suffered a medical emergency that required hospitalization. He faces charges of corruption, which Thaksin insists are politically motivated. The question remains how legitimate are the charges if they were made by a military government. Rumors have circulated that the former prime minister reach an agreement with the military establishment. The option available to him would be to seek a royal pardon. Thaksin does still have some political influence and imprisonment could have implications in future elections. The military  backed parties can always do a coup by stealth. Thaksin's businesses have been subject to scrutiny. The Advance Info Service contracts connection to the military indicated a monopoly run solely by the Shinawatra family. Telecommunications were not his only business ventures. Not all of his companies were successful, but the one that survived made him wealthy. The major crime he is accused of his hiding his assets. This indictment was made by the National Counter Corruption Commission. Thaksin Shinawatra  demonstrates that wealth has a negative effect on democratic institutions. His return does indicate a shift in Thailand's political atmosphere. However, many still remain in exile due to the military.