Beltway Insider: Trump/Afghanistan; Pope’s Message; U.S./Russia; Mass Refugees Murder; North Korea; Pence; NY Judge

President Donald Trump moved this week against the Islamic State Fighters dropping a GBU-43, a Massive Ordnance Air Blast, commonly called the Mother of all Bombs on Afghanistan, stopping what has been described as operational caves.

According to Gallup, President Trump's job approval, over the past week, increased three percentage points to 41% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President decreased four percentage points to 53%. 

President Trump Targets Afghanistan

President Donald Trump, in asserting the United States militaristic power and commitment to democracy, gave the go ahead this week to launch the largest non-nuclear weapon strike against Islamic State Fighters hold up in Afghanistan.

"At around 7:00 p.m. local time in Afghanistan last night, the United States military used a GBU-43 weapon in Afghanistan.  The GBU-43 is a large, powerful,l and accurately delivered weapon. We targeted a system of tunnels and caves that ISIS fighters used to move around freely, making it easier for them to target U.S. military advisors and Afghan forces in the area," said White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer

In the Nangargar province, close to the border of Pakistan, the Islamic State had apparently carved out and extensive underground complex of tunnels and caves, similar to the North Vietcong during the Vietnam War, which allowed them to move freely, without notice from situation room to situation room.

The MOAB, a Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, nicknamed the "mother of all bombs" weighs 21,600 ibs and is dropped via parachute guided by GPS. The concussive bomb, explodes above the ground and like ripple in the pond theory, spread out across a size of nine city blocks.

"The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously.  And in order to defeat the group, we must deny them operational space, which we did.  The United States took all precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties and collateral damage as a result of the operation," said White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.

General Nicholson, Commander of Resolute Support and Commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, explained he and his command office remained in constant satellite and drone surveillance before, during and after the detonation.

While not an exercise, the Nangargar explosion was the first use of the MOAB by the United States Military. The go ahead was signed off 24 hours before impact.

Trump Issues Putin An Ultimatum

President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to his alleged partner in election crime, Russian President Vladimir Putin over his continued loyalty to Syria and Bashar al Assad in the wake of his condemnation of the United States recent Syrian airstrikes.

The recent airstrikes have again brought to the surface the allegiance Putin has with Assad. This loyalty which has increasing come under fire from the United States, and other nations, as well as Putin's decision to violate the territorial sovereignty of the Ukraine resulting in his expulsion from the G8, which, surprisingly this president has continued and impresses will continue.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was discharged to Russian to meet and convey the position of the United States, delivering, in effect an ultimatum to his counterpart indicating Putin must make a decision on loyalties.

"The visit is part of our effort to maintain communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure that the United States' views on the situation in Syria, counterterrorism efforts, North Korea, and other matters are clearly conveyed. We're open to strategic cooperation with Russia when we can achieve a shared goal such as defeating ISIS. Russia must fully honor the commitments it made on Syria, Ukraine, and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Russia is isolated.  They have aligned themselves with North Korea, Syria, Iran and with the exception of Russia, they are all failed states," Spicer said.  

Reports from the Intelligence Community have expressly indicated there is no consensus that Russian had advance notice or was complicit in the chemical attacks. They did however accuse the Russian leader of assisting Assad in covering up the attack.

The Russian Syria situation is unfolding with this administration indicating further sanction are being discussed.

Pope Francis Deliver Easter Mass

Pope Francis spoke to members of the Catholic Church and Christian around the world with his Easter Day Message on the Resurrection.

The progressive Pope also broke with tradition and spoke freely "encouraging Christians to keep the faith despite the wars, sickness and hatred in the world.

 

The church never ceases to say, faced with our defeats, our closed and fearful hearts, 'stop the Lord is risen." But if the Lord is risen, how come these things happen?

 

He went on to say "Nobody asks us: `But, are you happy with all that's happening in the world?' 'Are you willing to go forward carrying a cross,' as Jesus did?

 

The Pope also noted in his impromptu homily that " in this culture of waste what is not needed is thrown away, discarded, that stone - Jesus - is discarded and is the source of life.

 

And we too, pebbles on the ground, in this land of pain, tragedy, with faith in the Risen Christ we have a wisdom in the midst of many calamities.

 

The wisdom to look beyond and say, "look there is no wall; there is a horizon, there is life, there is joy, there is the cross amidst this ambivalence. Look ahead, do not close in on yourself." [Radio Vatican]

 

North Korea Attempts To Flex its Nuclear Muscle  

North Korean President Kim Jong Un displayed his nuclear arsenal for the world, taunting his neighbors, during a military parade exhibiting them which media later suggested were fake with the assumption the leader hoped to provoke allowing for retaliation.

The belligerency and denuclearization of North Korea has also developed into the national security issue with the military option a possibility especially as Vice President embarks on a loyalty mission to the region.

"Obviously the Vice President and the President have been in close collaboration with Secretary Mattis, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dunford, General McMaster and the entire National Security Council as we develop not only for South Korea and the region, but as it relates to all of our national security strategy, but with particular emphasis on North Korea, absolutely we'll be discussing that with our allies and partners at every stop.  And we've got some military options already being assessed, but we'll work that as we sit down in discussions with General Brooks, the commander there on Peninsula," Spicer said.

Beltway Insider: Trump Bombs Syria; Putin/Assad; Egypt's Bloody Sunday; Sweden/Norway; WH Bickering; Gorsuch

Who Polices North Korea First

Evan as the United States maintain a complete ROK Alliance, the recent positive meetings with China have stabilized the authority in the hemisphere.

The United States has no business or purpose attempting to usurp the Asian coalition, unless expressly requested and put before Congress to determine the necessity of interference in North Korea.

North Korea should be policed by its neighbors, Japan Prime Minister Abe has said North Korea possesses the ability to launch against his nation and strike targets, if that is the case then Prime Minister Abe should take that before the upcoming G7, as has been precedence when nations become unreceptive to United Nations charter and decided to violate the sovereignty of nations or launch nuclear war against one's neighbors.

Is it the United States responsibility to police the world? This president believes that the electoral decision which placed him in office bears the responsibility of global police chief, the truth of governmental delineation does not support the personal belief the President holds.

The United Nations has a security force, which governs every nation, the G7 which the top seven economic governments meet frequently should be consulted on any action which deals with the potential of nuclear response especially in the Asian Pacific rim.

Subjecting Japan to retaliation for a strike from the United States escalate the possibility of further military action against the Kim Jong Un.

Launching MOAB, the mother of all bombs available in the current military arsenal, even as it is to stop the advancement of Islamic State fighters the fact remains consultation with Congress, of which the President along with 66 coalition nations would have agreed is of utmost importance and a show of strength against the advancement of ISIS is necessary, consultation is necessary.

Dictators, despots, authoritarian, totalitarianism leaders do not consult, Presidents elected in a democracy by the people, naïve and blinded people and still by the people, with or without interference or influence of another nation, has still placed this war happy president in a place where the military launch codes travel with him, and granted they have traveled with every president, all of whom have shown restraint, a word and personality trait that is absent in this president.

Syria Hits Back; Targets Refugees Preparing to Leave Aleppo; Kills 112

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his alliance to the Islamic State Fighters, ISIS, have been blamed for the bus bombings of Syrian Refugees, which left four overloaded buses filled with families finally leaving Aleppo, dead.

Countless charred bodied were lying on the street. The busses windows blown out were streaked in black smoke. Similar to Nazi war tactics, the bus bombings signal al Assad is still intent of murdering innocent civilians in the bloody six-year civil war.

The Syrian Civil War began during the Arab Spring of 2011, when democracy swept through the Middle East and Arab Peninsula toppling governments and instilling new democratic leadership. Assad's Syria was also one of the nations where the uprising spilled over into the streets and unlike other nations Assad decided to use all his military might to destroy the freedom fighters.

Vice President Mike Pence Travel Plans Announced

Vice President Mike Pence, designated by President Trump, will embark on a clarity mission to the Asian pacific Rim with stops in South Korean, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia for the purpose of defining the Administration's policy on issues directly related to these nations.

The key themes the Vice President will articulate to these leaders will be a full commitment to security alliances, an economic engagement, especially as President Trump has vetoed the Trans Pacific Partnership, the Vice President is to articulate a commitment to continued economic growth and presence in the region and the final theme is to reinforce our partnership in the region.

The White House Press Officer released the following to define the Vice President's duties and designations. First. he will be participating with key heads of state in each nation.

  

"Our visit with the Acting President, as we go into Seoul, the Vice President will reaffirm our commitment ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance.  And will underscore our intent to continue to consult with the Republic of Korea on North Korea's efforts to advance its ballistic missile and its nuclear program.

 

With Prime Minister Abe.  The Vice President will exchange views with Prime Minister Abe, and will talk security, economy, and regional issues. He will kick off the U.S.-Japan economic dialogue in Tokyo.

 

In Indonesia with President Widodo, the Vice President will reaffirm our strategic partnership with Indonesia, thank him for their leadership on counterterrorism, and underscore the importance of their partnership on regional security challenges, again, like North Korea.

When we get down to Sydney, meeting with Prime Minister Turnbull and members of his administration, the Vice President will reaffirm our enduring presence in the region.  We'll thank Australia for its partnership in addressing global issues, and they'll continue to discuss our bilateral trade and investment relations."  

New York Judge Death Considered Suicide

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, 65, the first Muslim and African American New York State Court of Appeals Judge was found dead in New York's Hudson River hours after she failed to show up for work and her worried staff telephoned her husband who reported her missing.

Abdus-Salaam's fully clothed body was pulled from the chilly waters, with no visible signs of trauma. Friends and colleagues of the judge have said while sad over family matters she was upbeat and suicide seems out of character.

"Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all. She was a pioneer. Through her writings, her wisdom, and her unshakable moral compass, she was a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come. I was proud to appoint her to the state's highest court and am deeply saddened by her passing," Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote in a statement Wednesday night. [New York Post]

Abdus-Salaam, a graduate of Columbia University Law School, had lost her mother around this time one year ago and her brother also committed suicide. There is no hint of scandal or other suspicious, concerning or compromising legal situations that would have driven her to end her life.

For more information on President Donald Trump: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com, 

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