The John Batchelor Show

Monday 12 May 2014

Air Date: 
May 12, 2014

Engraving, above: Jews in old Ukraine.

JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW

Co-host: Thaddeus McCotter, WJR

Hour One

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 1, Block A: Aaron Task, Yahoo Finance and the Daily Ticker,   in re: Dow at 17,000, big-caps flying  high, and all other stocks are slumped.  The rocket ship is in boring utilities. Twitter down 40, FCB down 25%.  "Divergence between what the Dow and S&P are doing, vs what most stocks are doing. "They’ve shot the soldiers, but the generals are sitting high and mighty – and that can't last too long."   Mary Kissel: "Don't be in cash" (so are you enough in debt?).  Beef is very expensive, pork prices up; education absurdly high. More Americans are working, not making much money. Fed not concerned about inflation; if it falls behind, hard to catch up  True that income inequality has risen dramatically; gains have gone to the 0.1% superduper-rich. There's always been a gap between rich and poor, and seems to be expanding. What to do about it?  Pikkety and others disagree.   Marketeers are "whining about the market."

The House has approved a resolution calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor in the Internal Revenue Service scandal. This isn't just a Republican idea. Last week's 250-168 vote was bipartisan, with 26 Democrats joining 224 Republicans in voting aye. And one of the first to suggest a special prosecutor, almost a year ago, was a liberal columnist, Bill Keller of the New York Times.

Keller--who was once the Times's executive editor, and who left the paper in March to head a nonprofit journalism startup--floated the idea in a May 21, 2013, blog post provocatively titled "Bring Back Ken Starr." For the benefit of our younger readers, Starr is the former federal judge and solicitor general who became famous--or infamous--as the independent counsel who investigated Whitewater and other Clinton scandals. Bill Clinton was impeached (but acquitted) for perjury and obstruction of justice in the Starr probe.

A year ago, just after the IRS scandal broke, Republicans were "howling" for a special prosecutor, Keller noted. His advice: "The president should call their bluff":

The president should announce that he has told the Justice Department to appoint an independent investigator with bulldog instincts and bipartisan credibility. The list of candidates could start with Kenneth Starr, who chased down the scandals, real and imagined, of the . . .

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 1, Block B:   Francis Rose, Federal News Radio, in re:  [JB: Isn't it a great to be a recovering Congressperson, looking in corners with flashlights?]  Could claim that the Benghazi research is genuine, but it looks a tad political.  Oversight is the responsibility of Congress, esp in the Lerner case.  But have you made the case in the past such that doing this now is something you're almost compelled to do.  Trey Gowdy and the committee.  Washington: "Keep friends close, enemies closer." GOP avoiding sounding strident, as it disaffects voters.  Don’t rock the boat with independent voters – it's not just rallying the base, but reaching out to people who might normally not vote Republican.  Asking Atty General Holder to appoint a special prosecutor in Lerner case. 

Why did 26 Dems vote with 204 GOP today to have a special prosecutor?  IRS vs the ACA – the latter not even being discussed on the Hill now.  Don’t understand the special prosecutorial process.

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 1, Block C: Bill Roggio, Long War Journal and FDD, in re:   ISIS challenges Zawahiri: Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham blames Z for the intramural cutthroating between the al Nusra Front (= al Q) and ISIS.  Nusrah Front said, We don't want an Islamic state, we want to work with all kinds of groups [a sophisticated strategy]. Both seek to form a global caliphate; this is a battle for supremacy for who'll lead the jihadists.   This occurs because things are going so well in Syria for jihadists that one wants to expand its brand. This is a problem of success.  The notion that intell svcs are generating the fight by putting stuff out on social media is overblown.  This is a core issue for the jihadist movement. Somewhat analogous to IRA fighting among itself while still fighting the British, but more so to Stalinist-Trotskyites. US drones whacking people in Yemen don’t know who – CIA vs DOD  Newspaper stories; "JSOC targeting isn’t as good as CIA's targeting" – oops, a CIA plant.  CIA has killed dozens of Pakistani civilians; nobody plant articles about that.  Note the attempted Detroit strike in Christmas 2009. We should be able to kill underwear bombers in Yemen and at the same time  put the bear back to hibernate – "walk and chew gum at the same time."

ISIS spokesman blames Zawahiri for infighting in Syria  The spokesman for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) has rejected an overture by the head of al Qaeda, Ayman al Zawahiri.

US drone strike kills 6 AQAP fighters in central Yemen  The strike took place in the Wadi Abida district in Marib province. US drones have targeted the area six times since October 2012

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 1, Block D:  Gordon Chang, Forbes.com, in re:  China tries to arrogate an oil rig in the South China Sea, attacks Vietnamese ship.   PRC's PLA Navy aggresses vs Japan and South Korea, and is eating pieces of the Philippines; taking a sovereign nation and turning it into a patsy.  Recall Chinese go: black and white stones, surrounding the other guy's pieces.  Yes – also with India (China has set up protomilitary bases on both side. The oil rig China as installed in very close to shore, and Vietnamese are not afraid of China. In 1979, Deng wanted to teach Vietnamese a lesson – and Vietnam taught China a lesson.  Hard for Pres Obama to back up Vietnam as we’re not formally allies and don't have closely-established ties; China has given a black eye to the US.   May wind up with US ships in Camranh Bay.  Washington does not want to read the events.  Will fundraise to get elected, needs to keep the business community happy in order to suck in donations.  The distasteful AliBaba – 80% of the Chinese e-commerce market, could be the largest IPO in the US.  AliBaba has a variable0-inerst-structured pan, ruled in Chinese courts as illegal; US investors could put money in and lose it all.  This happened in 19902 with Unicom. 

Hundreds of people protested across Vietnam against China's announced deployment of the CNOOC 981 deep-water oil rig near the Paracel Islands, Voice of America reported May 11. Beijing continues to rely on its growing military and technological capabilities to test its maritime boundaries, and it is calculating that Vietnam will be unwilling and unable to make any serious attempt to stop the Chinese drilling.

Hour Two

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 2, Block A:  David M Drucker, Washington Examiner Sr Congressional correspondent, in re: trey Gowdy.  The curiosity is Mrs Pelosi("For now, Dems won’t name members to the committee." ), whose charge is to name the minority members of he committee. Dems can’t afford to cede the whole shebang to GOP.  Dems say there's no there there – but imagine if they're wrong.  If GOP uncovers something and the Dems aren’t part of it, that could be trouble.  The last Select Committee as formed by Pelosi on global warming.  North Carolina: a big sigh of relief from the win this week.  .  . .  . David going to Mississippi this week. 

Boehner: House won't arrest Lerner...

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 2, Block B:  John Bolton, AEI, in re: Why Nigeria Matters – the threat has grown more diffuse; the aggregate threat is the same as on 9/11.  Obama Adm doesn’t seem t have a strategy vis-à-vis Ukraine.  Haven’t slowed down Putin in the slightest.  The harsh reality is that the US has to lead NATO or it goes nowhere. 

Neither the Obama administration nor our country as a whole is paying adequate attention.  The threat of Islamic terrorism on display now in northern Nigeria is global in scope and continues to grow, political rhetoric by the president notwithstanding.  Boko Haram’s latest outrage should focus our attention on the continuing threat of All Qaeda and radical Islam.  Whether we pay attention remains to be seen.


Washington and Europe's capitals must decide without further delay whether they are serious about preserving Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity. To date, the West has talked a good game, but beyond that has shown only fecklessness. If the upcoming national elections are subverted, whatever the results in today's referendum, and the American and European response is, yet again, only rhetoric, Ukraine in anything like its current form cannot be saved.  Sweeping sanctions, rigorously enforced, and decisive political steps like bringing Ukraine onto a clear path to NATO membership might yet work. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that these or other dramatic steps are even under consideration. If not, history will undoubtedly remember Obama as the president who lost Ukraine. And much more besides.  . . . Read this article online.

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 2, Block C:  Paul R Gregory, Hoover,  in re:  . . . Strelkov = shooter; a Stalinesque nom de guerre.  He had the OSCE hostages released – and we heard the intercepted phone call of his cowering in agreement with his Moscow handlers. Putin's main audience is in Russia; secondarily East Ukraine; third, Germany, then the rest of the West. Rational Russians swallow the Kremlin's wild stories.  Lazy; little follow-up on YouTube. 

Two demonstrably false urban legends: In Odessa, it was said that neo-Nazis strangled a pregnant woman; another, a Jewish first-aid physician runs to the fire to rescue victims, was forbidden to enter, told by Right Sector that Jews will soon  be burned.   Apparently, if you do even modest research these show up as completely bogus. 

Why Hold Ukraine Referendums the World Knows Are Shams? Putin Has His Reasons  Vladimir Putin must be following the sham referendum in east Ukraine with satisfaction and delight. He has outfoxed Barack Obama, John Kerry, Angela Merkel, and the European Union once again. Not only has he escaped sanctions with his “wink and a nod” instructions to the separatist rebels to postpone (not give up) the May 11 election. Putin’s “peace initiative” of May 7 gave his stock market and the rouble a little boost and his plea to the rebels received sympathetic play with the major news services (See, for example Reuters account). On the day of the election, CNN’s reporting went so far as to characterize the rebel’s decision to go ahead with the referendum as “defiance” of Putin.

Let’s consider today’s election events in east Ukraine from Putin’s perspective:

The facts: The residents of occupied smaller cities and semi-occupied large cities of east Ukraine (the so-called People’s Republic of Donetsk, or PRD) were invited today by “separatist forces” to vote in a referendum. Those who show up must mark “yes” or “no” to a single question: “Do you support the act of self-rule of the People’s Republic of Donetsk?” The question itself is confusing. Is a “yes” vote for greater autonomy, complete self rule, or for leaving Ukraine completely? No one seems to know or care. (The incoming results of the referendum can be followed on Kyiv Post’s live updates).

Few share illusions about the PRD’s “self rule” referendum. The self-declared PRD does not exist except in the minds of separatist leaders and their Moscow handlers. There is no electoral commission. Nor are there procedures for counting the votes or for determining the all-important turnout. (Remember Stalin’s maxim: “the election itself does not count, all that matters is who counts”).The unnumbered ballots were hastily printed. Voters are allowed to vote multiple times for those unable to come to the polling stations. The half-million city of Luhansk has only four voting stations, perhaps to generate long lines for Russian camera crews. No international observers are present, and unauthorized reporters have been driven away by threat of violence. Many locations lack polling stations. Despite Putin’s promise of troop withdrawals, the Kyiv Post reported at 2:50 PM that Russian troops were gathering at the border, some bearing the colors of UN peacekeeping forces.  . . . [more]

У Слов'янську перехопили 100 тисяч заповнених бюлетенів для 'референдуму'

Petition: sign and please share: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/designate-russia-state-sponsor-terrorism/XMjbTltM

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO Designate Russia as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism"

In its unannounced war against Ukraine, Russia relies on covert operations which fall squarely within the definition of "international terrorism" under 18 U.S.C. § 2331. Specifically, armed operatives of Russia, acting under disguise, attempt to influence the policy of Ukrainian government by intimidation or coercion. They also try to affect the conduct of a government by assassinations and kidnapping, taking by force government buildings, police posts and military bases of Ukraine. This activity is being conducted on large scale and over prolonged time period, despite condemnation by the USA, G-7, NATO, EU and UN.

Accordingly, Russia must be officially designated as a "State sponsor of terrorism", per http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 2, Block D: Jed Babbin, American Spectator,  in re: Boycotting Benghazi  The Dems are in a really lousy position. They want to deny Gowdy's committee credibility but they can't afford to miss the chance to defend Pres Obama, Secy Clinton & Co. 

Hour Three

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 3, Block A:  Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents, in re: P5+1, led by Russia and the US, negotiate with the Iranians, following fruitless discussions in New York, and IAEA skepticism:  moving toward cynicism – Iran in hiding facilities, has no civilian use for detonators; many facilities off-limits; using petrochemical industry to circumvent restricted materials incl titanium tubs inside steel pipes.  Zarif says Iran is "progressing unexpectedly quickly" toward having a bomb plus delivery US keep s lowering the standards.

Secy Kerry to meet in London with the PA, which  has no interest in creating a deal.  K1. US can put forward a plan; 2 Can wait for PA and Hamas to do so; 3 Can try to renew where the talks left off,  "Artificially resuscitate."  Susan Rice: "No govt that refuses to recognize Israel will be acceptable in negotiations." Clear that Abbas planned the collapse of talks long ago.  Martin Indyk has [spoken poorly]. West Bank situation is deteriorating.  Ge Ssi has made comment sin recent days; is laying out his platform [i.e., electioneering].  Ten battalions in Sinai are doing a good job. Plan to ship Israeli gas into Cairo to be converted to LNG? Yes. 

Odessa’s Jews lay low as violence engulfs their oasis42 have died in clashes this month, but Ukrainian city’s Jewish community insists it is a place of tolerance.   El-Sissi sees ‘real chance’ for Mideast peace.   Presumptive president calls on Israel to accept 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, while making rare appeal to Egypt’s youth.   Olmert likely to be sentenced to jail time Tuesday.   Former PM would become first to serve time behind bars, but courts may let him stay out while he appeals conviction in Holyland case

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 3, Block B:  Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents, in re: Joint Cobra exercises, one of the key training enterprises for both US and Israeli militaries.   An Israeli spying in theUS?  When VP Gore stayed at the King David, "security fond a guy in he air conditioning duct" – what?  Physically impossible, and the King David doesn’t have a/c ducts (it was build anciently).  Has small vents blowing cold or warm air; No vent.  A greek Orthodox priest favored Christian Arabs' joining the Israeli military – for education and achieving a place in society,  The Greek Orthodox Church fired the priest.  Number of Druse women who join has increased a hundredfold. CRIF, central body of French Jewish community:  la quenelle. Jews now under fairy heavy attack, sharp increase in physical assaults. Rise of extremist parties in Hungary and Greece at al; Le Pen's party doing well in France, may use this to create a bloc in the EU parliament.   Odessa: 350,000 Jews ; "Was calmer here than in other places , but now everyone is quite worried."

For Jews, it’s ‘not so pleasant’ living in France (The Times of Israel | News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World)

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 3, Block C: Richard A Epstein, Defining Ideas/Hoover Institution, Chicago Law, in re: The Piketty Fallacy

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 3, Block D:   Richard A Epstein, Hoover Institution, Chicago Law, in re: Remembering Gary Becker

Hour Four

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 4, Block A: Robert Harris, author, An Officer and a Spy: A novel  (1 of 4)

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 4, Block B: Robert Harris, author, An Officer and a Spy: A novel  (2 of 4)

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 4, Block C: Robert Harris, author, An Officer and a Spy: A novel  (3 of 4)

Monday  12 May 2014  / Hour 4, Block D: Robert Harris, author, An Officer and a Spy: A novel  (4 of 4)

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Music

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