New START expires in 19 days. No US response yet to Putin’s Sept proposal to keep Treaty limits 1 more yr. Also, no response re data from targeting piece https://unser-mitteleuropa.com/185266 given the US on Jan 1 from the drone attack on Valdai residence. Litmus tests.
David Ignatius Changes His Tune
Windsocks are useful. Very well plugged-in, pundit-ancien David Ignatius changes tune on Iran from hard power raymcgovern.com/2026/01/11/ign to soft power in less than a week. Did he learn what “hypersonic” means? washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/
The State of Arms Control
Scott Ritter & I have very frank, spirited but typically respectful debate on whether the Fat Lady has already sung the end of arms control (see min. 1:20:18 to 1:38:39.) IN ADDITION, please be aware. They are going after Scott again (see the one min. at 1:59:00).
How Catholic is Catholic JD Vance
Has newbie Catholic JD Vance obtained a Church waiver on “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods”? Does he know that sans a waiver or “pre-emptive absolution”, his soul is in grave danger as he meets with visiting Danes and Greenlanders later today?
Netanyahu’s Endless Bloodshed
From that Son-of-a-Shah, to “Is-Tulsi-With-Waldo?”, to Trump’s “morality”. Albert Camus and MLK’s “anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows” also Maria Zakharova calling UK Def/Sec Healey’s wish to kidnap Putin “the wet dreams of British perverts”.
Did Someone Call Small Donald Names
“My late father Donald, from Queens, thought he was small. He liked to humiliate others. Why does President Donald call people names? Did someone call small Donald names? May all Donalds be healed, including those in our own hearts.” Rev. Donna Schaper https://ucc.org/daily-devotional/generational-grace/?inf_contact_key=fc6f078c9bafdccd85e220113051bfe74dfbc39d7283b2cb89d5189540b69330
Anthony Aguilar Wins Sam Adams Award
Anyone need to be uplifted? Need to be reminded that people of integrity keep coming out of the woodwork (with their spouses saying “Go for it!”)? Then watch the Sam Adams Award (website: http://samadamsaward.ch) being presented on Jan 7 to Anthony Aguilar.
https://consortiumnews.com/2026/01/11/watch-anthony-aguilar-receives-sam-adams-award/
What’s in Store for US-Russia Relations
David Lin gave me time to speculate on what is in store for US-Russia relations in the wake of events over the past few weeks. David’s commentators did not like it; they did not like it, like it, not one bit. See what you think.
Don’t Get Fooled, Trump
“Fool me once”: JFK was fooled by Allen Dulles claiming Castro wld fall once rebels were at Bay of Pigs. JFK learned that CIA analysts had not been consulted. He decided not to be fooled twice – one reason he was killed (as Truman strongly suggested). Trump: Beware, same trick.
Morality According to Trump
Trump’s morality: The Ivys wouldn’t admit him, until a friend at UPenn got him in after 2 years at Fordham, where “Moral Theology” (Ethics) was required for sophomores. Trump’s lawyer threatened Fordham & UPenn not to release Trump’s marks. But Fordham: Do you not dare dissociate from Trump’s morality?
https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/09/14/donald-trump-at-wharton-university-of-pennsylvania/