Category Archives: Middle East

The Global Health Security Index of 2019 for the US and Key Countries

The Global Health Security Index of 2019 and its relevance to preventing virus pandemics. The Index was published in October, 2019, and analyzes the readiness of the world’s countries to combat pandemics, like we are now experiencing with the coronavirus. … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Congress, Donald Trump, Global Health Security Index, Health Care, Immigration Ban, Iran, Middle East, NATO, North Korea, Russia, State Department, Turkey, Yemen | Leave a comment

Democracy Ratings for the US and Countries in the News from the V-Dem Institute

We show graphs over time of the US and countries in the news, for five categories.  The ratings go from 1900 through 2018, unless only fewer years are available.  The source of the ratings is the V-Dem Institute at V-dem.net. … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Democracy Ratings, Economies, Education, Equal Treatment Under the Law, Equality of Opportunity Project, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom to Assemble, Freedom to Petition, Freedoms, Immigration Policy, Iran, Middle East, North Korea, Politics, Religion, Secrecy, Syria, Turkey, United Nations, Voting Rights, Women’s Rights | Leave a comment

The United States and the World in the Freedom in the World 2019 Ratings

We show graphs in the Freedom House report “Freedom in the World 2019” by Freedom House at freedomhouse.org, for both the United States, and for World countries. We show the decline in the US Freedom rating over 10 years from … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Criminal Justice System, Democracy Ratings, Donald Trump, Education, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom to Assemble, Freedom to Petition, Freedoms, Immigration Ban, Immigration Policy, Iran, Middle East, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Oil Imports, Syria, Turkey, Voting Rights, Yemen | Leave a comment

Most of Trump’s Speech was Election Year Malarky

Most of What Trump Said Was Election Year Malarky It’s hard to know where to start.  Let’s start with Whew!  Calmer minds have taken over. I think for such an important War or Peace speech, it would have been better … Continue reading

Posted in 2020 Election, 2020 Primaries, Affairs of State, California Oil, California Power Mixes, Climate Change, Donald Trump, EPA, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Iran, Middle East, NATO, North Korea Nuclear Threat, Nuclear Weapons, Politics, Regulations, Saudi Oil Imports, Terrorism, Trump Administration, US Oil, World Oil Exports, World Oil Usage | Leave a comment

Why Are We Waiting for Trump Alone to Determine War or Peace?

We’re back to this incomprehension of why, in supposedly the most advanced nation in the world, the question of war or peace is determined by one of the most self-interested billionaires, who is seriously affected by any challenges to his … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Communications, Congress, Constitution, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Donald Trump, Economies, Fossil Fuel Energy, Iran, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Politics, Saudi Oil Imports, State Department, US Oil, World Oil Exports, World Oil Usage | Leave a comment

Has Trump Really Gone Bonkers?

Has Trump Really Gone Bonkers? Today, Trump doubled down on including cultural targets.  Despite yesterday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that they were not going to be hit.  That’s because that would be war crimes under international law.  By … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Climate Change, Congress, Congressional Investigation, Donald Trump, Fire Risks, Iran, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Paris Climate Agreement, Trump Administration, Trump on Climate Change, VP Pence | Leave a comment

Hints That Trump Might Run a Fixed Election, Major Update 1

Hints That Trump Might Run a Fixed Election, Major Update 1 Update:  9/27.  Well, since the article is about fixing the election, I have to keep adding new abuses.  The Washington Post just revealed that when Trump met with the … Continue reading

Posted in 2020 Election, 2020 Primaries, Affairs of State, Congressional Investigation, Constitution, Donald Trump, Establishment Clause, Fifth Amendment, First Amendment, Gerrymandering, Joe Biden, Middle East, Negotiations, Politics, Secrecy, Trump Administration, White House | Leave a comment

Freedom in Countries Which the US Deals With

Freedom in Countries Which the US Deals With in the Cato Institute Rankings of 2018 In the US dealing with various countries around the world, it is nice, but simple, to have a Freedom Ranking and evaluations to inform us … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Democracy Ratings, Freedoms, Middle East, North Korea, Russia, Syria, United Nations, Yemen | Leave a comment

America’s Climate Action Dilemmas

America’s Climate Action Dilemmas About half of Americans are taking climate action on state, city, industry, and individual levels.  Polls show between 2/3 and 3/4 think the US should take such action.  However, we are currently in one of our … Continue reading

Posted in 2020 Election, 2020 Primaries, Affairs of State, CAFE Standards, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Climate Education, Climate Science, Congress, Constitution, Donald Trump, Fossil Fuel Energy, Fox News, Freedom of the Press, Mayor's Climate Action Plan, Middle East, No More Drilling, Paris Climate Accord, Paris Climate Agreement, Regulations, Trump Administration, Trump on Climate Change, US Climate Mayors | Leave a comment

Is the US Really the Strongest That It Has Ever Been?

Is the US Really the Strongest That It Has Ever Been? Well,Trump has pumped up the military budget for the last two budgets.  And the weapons systems have been progressed.  But the military is only one of many technological, environmental, … Continue reading

Posted in 2020 Election, Affairs of State, Climate Change, Climate Science, Coastal Flooding, Cybersecurity, Donald Trump, Economies, Fire Risks, Houston Flooding, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Irma, Middle East, Moon Mission, Moon Program, Negotiations, North Korea Nuclear Threat, Paris Climate Agreement, Russia, Saudi Oil Imports, Science Funding, Sea Level Rise, Tax Laws, Trump Administration, Trump on Climate Change, Trump Wall, US Flood Maps, World Oil Exports, World Oil Usage | Leave a comment