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A superlative new initiative just announced by National Security Advisor John Bolton is establishing a new Africa strategy.
The initiative echoes the foreign policy vision Donald Trump articulated in his inaugural address.
That is, that America's relationship with the nations of the world should be defined first by our national interests. "We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone," he said, "but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow."
The Africa initiative is driven by three components: expanding and building new trade and commercial ties; containing radical Islamic terrorism and violent conflict; and assuring that American aid dollars are used effectively.
Among the concerns of the administration are aggressive moves by Russia and China into Africa, whose approach is far different than ours.
Corrupt regimes are an enormous problem in Africa. Both Russia and China see corruption as an opportunity for commercial gain by buying off regimes and building debt dependence through loans.
For instance, China is moving to take over the national power and utility company of Zambia to cover billions of dollars of debt.
The best-known public measure of corruption is the Corruption Perceptions Index published annually by Transparency International.
Countries are graded 1 to 100, 100 being corruption free -- which, unfortunately, is nonexistent. The average global score is 43. The average score in Africa is 32.
Trump is right on target in advancing both American and African interests by moving "nations toward self-reliance and away from long-term dependency."
As is generally the case with welfare, foreign aid is notoriously ineffective and counterproductive, undermining self-reliance and fostering dependency.
U.S. aid to Africa in 2017 was $8.7 billion.
https://townhall.com/columnists/starparker/2018/12/19/trumps-important-new-africa-strategy-n2537724
The initiative echoes the foreign policy vision Donald Trump articulated in his inaugural address.
That is, that America's relationship with the nations of the world should be defined first by our national interests. "We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone," he said, "but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow."
The Africa initiative is driven by three components: expanding and building new trade and commercial ties; containing radical Islamic terrorism and violent conflict; and assuring that American aid dollars are used effectively.
Among the concerns of the administration are aggressive moves by Russia and China into Africa, whose approach is far different than ours.
Corrupt regimes are an enormous problem in Africa. Both Russia and China see corruption as an opportunity for commercial gain by buying off regimes and building debt dependence through loans.
For instance, China is moving to take over the national power and utility company of Zambia to cover billions of dollars of debt.
The best-known public measure of corruption is the Corruption Perceptions Index published annually by Transparency International.
Countries are graded 1 to 100, 100 being corruption free -- which, unfortunately, is nonexistent. The average global score is 43. The average score in Africa is 32.
Trump is right on target in advancing both American and African interests by moving "nations toward self-reliance and away from long-term dependency."
As is generally the case with welfare, foreign aid is notoriously ineffective and counterproductive, undermining self-reliance and fostering dependency.
U.S. aid to Africa in 2017 was $8.7 billion.
https://townhall.com/columnists/starparker/2018/12/19/trumps-important-new-africa-strategy-n2537724
The U.S. military is preparing to withdraw its forces from Syria, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. “The Pentagon has an order to get to move troops out of Syria as quickly as possible, “ a U.S. official said.
President Trump has pushed to withdraw all U.S. forces from Syria, where more than 2,000 service members are.
Islamic State has been effectively cornered in a small stretch of Syrian territory along the Iraq border, where the U.S. military estimates about 2,000 fighters have managed to hold off complete defeat.
The Pentagon said that Islamic State controlled less than 2% of the territory it once held in the Middle East, sparking a vow from President Trump to get all U.S. forces out of Syria in a matter of months.
“We’ll be coming out of Syria,” he said. “I want to bring our troops back home.”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-military-preparing-for-a-full-withdrawal-of-its-forces-from-northeastern-syria-11545225641?emailToken=326e2826bbabc317aa6c2444e348dbafS5dwqkBCIuL00oRfwZnN+vuWRjah1rCnZMwbiWgeFFZoBfMHlMsBYHM4PmLP5tyIQwMpJxyv6tWnX0NXulQUZkDYHM4kMzmjO4QHXVT1KFcV8JqN9tNc1L8ktsAGlUG0Ftjn/r2/vTvtszuMu5kQQw%3D%3D&reflink=article_copyURL_share
President Trump has pushed to withdraw all U.S. forces from Syria, where more than 2,000 service members are.
Islamic State has been effectively cornered in a small stretch of Syrian territory along the Iraq border, where the U.S. military estimates about 2,000 fighters have managed to hold off complete defeat.
The Pentagon said that Islamic State controlled less than 2% of the territory it once held in the Middle East, sparking a vow from President Trump to get all U.S. forces out of Syria in a matter of months.
“We’ll be coming out of Syria,” he said. “I want to bring our troops back home.”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-military-preparing-for-a-full-withdrawal-of-its-forces-from-northeastern-syria-11545225641?emailToken=326e2826bbabc317aa6c2444e348dbafS5dwqkBCIuL00oRfwZnN+vuWRjah1rCnZMwbiWgeFFZoBfMHlMsBYHM4PmLP5tyIQwMpJxyv6tWnX0NXulQUZkDYHM4kMzmjO4QHXVT1KFcV8JqN9tNc1L8ktsAGlUG0Ftjn/r2/vTvtszuMu5kQQw%3D%3D&reflink=article_copyURL_share
A federal district judge in Texas struck down the Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional Friday. The lawsuit was brought by officials from 20 states, who want their residents to have more insurance choices and lower premiums.
Though the suing states won in Texas v. Azar, their victory won’t help consumers reeling from ObamaCare sticker-shock anytime soon. ObamaCare will stay on the books while the decision is appealed, which could take more than a year. The outcome is uncertain.
Fortunately, President Trump is using his regulatory power to accomplish precisely what these people want: relief from ObamaCare’s rigid regulations.
One of Trump’s most helpful moves is to allow the sale of “short-term plans,” renewable for up to three years, in any state that permits them. These plans cost 80 percent less than ObamaCare plans, on average, according to ehealthinsurance.com.
Short-term plans omit maternity coverage and don’t cover pre-existing conditions. They’re not for everyone, but for many middle-class buyers, they’re a good deal.
In Tampa, Fla., a short-term plan for a family of three costs $1,169 a year, less than one-tenth the $12,071 sticker price of an ObamaCare plan.
https://nypost.com/2018/12/18/democrats-are-waging-war-against-affordable-health-insurance/
Though the suing states won in Texas v. Azar, their victory won’t help consumers reeling from ObamaCare sticker-shock anytime soon. ObamaCare will stay on the books while the decision is appealed, which could take more than a year. The outcome is uncertain.
Fortunately, President Trump is using his regulatory power to accomplish precisely what these people want: relief from ObamaCare’s rigid regulations.
One of Trump’s most helpful moves is to allow the sale of “short-term plans,” renewable for up to three years, in any state that permits them. These plans cost 80 percent less than ObamaCare plans, on average, according to ehealthinsurance.com.
Short-term plans omit maternity coverage and don’t cover pre-existing conditions. They’re not for everyone, but for many middle-class buyers, they’re a good deal.
In Tampa, Fla., a short-term plan for a family of three costs $1,169 a year, less than one-tenth the $12,071 sticker price of an ObamaCare plan.
https://nypost.com/2018/12/18/democrats-are-waging-war-against-affordable-health-insurance/
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DEMOCRATS had an "insurance policy" in case Trump won
DEMOCRAT Hillary Clinton, while touring the nation in support of her book about the election, What Happened, said during an interview with NPR that she wouldn't rule out questioning the legitimacy of the election.
"I want to get back to the question, would you completely rule out questioning the legitimacy of this election if we learn that the Russian interference in the election is even deeper than we know now?" host Terry Gross asked.
"No, I would not," Clinton responded.
https://www.newsweek.com/clinton-says-election-results-could-be-fake-can-she-contest-667264