The John Batchelor Show

Thursday 22 October 2015

Air Date: 
October 22, 2015

Photo, left: The Great Kremlin Palace acts as the ceremonial residence of the President. Here, ceremonies are held for the President’s assumption of office, for presenting state awards, credentials, and receptions.
The palace was built at the order of Tsar Nicholas I by renowned Petersburg architect Konstantin Ton in 1838-1849. Eminent Moscow architects F.Rikhter, N.Chichagov and P.Gerasimov took part in building the palace. Renowned artists and sculptors were brought in to decorate the interiors: F.Solntsev, I.Vitali, P.Klodt and O.Loganovsky.
The palace’s main facade faces the Moscow River. The facade is decorated with carved white stone pediments, and the windows have carved coverings with double arcs and a small weight in the middle, like in the towers of the 17th century. The Annunication entrance of the Great Kremlin Palace gives on to the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin.
The palace, as Nicholas I conceived it, is a monument to Russian history and the glory of the Russian army. Five of the ceremonial halls on the second floor of the palace – the Andrew, Alexander, Georgy, Vladimir and Catherine halls – are dedicated to Russian orders, elements of which are included in the stucco moulding of each hall.
JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
Co-hosts: Mary Kissel, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board & host of Opinion Journal on WSJ Video. Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents.
 
Hour One
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 1, Block A: Mary Kissel, WSJ,  & Bill Whalen, Hoover, in re: Institute for Educational Excellence.  Paul Ryan.  Freedom Caucus who demanded fealty to themselves, speaking of process in the House.  Politics consists of small victories when you don't control ht White House. Rahm Emanuel politics: never waste a crisis. Congress gave the president what he wanted in military spending; this bill wd give members of military a 401K – which Pres Obama vetoed.  He wants to put more money into a broad range of spending. Mrs Clinton on Benghazi to a joint committee, Trey Gowdy, chair. Four issues: security requests from Amb Stevens long before his murder; misleading video narrative; Sid Blumenthal; the private email server. Now we learn that Mrs Clinton knew it was a terrorist attack.  She denies any bz relationship with Blumenthal (inaccurate).
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 1, Block B: Mary Kissel, WSJ,  & Bill Whalen, Hoover, in re:   
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 1, Block C:  James Taranto, WSJ, in re: column praises the vice-president; but since June there've been signals, guerrilla events; Beau's asking his father to run - and then he got off the horse.  On another hand, Biden may have thought it'd be hard to race against Mrs Clinton, and she currently looks too strong – but then, why wouldn't he have waited till after today's hearings?  Perhaps he was persuaded by the power of groupthink: Mrs Clinton had a great triumph, etc.   . . .  He remains available.  FBI director on the security investigation of Mrs C's private server; this hangs over everything.  . . . Sanders will be around for a while longer.  Mrc Clintonlooks to be in good shape for not only the nomination, but for he presidency, She needn't spend much on nomination, or even against the GOP, which is helter-skelter.  / If Trump were the nominee, he'd be unelectable – I thought. Not sure about that any more.   / Paul Ryan, now a candidate for t he speakership; congratulatory tweets.
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 1, Block D: Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents; in re: Bashar al Assad made a quick visit to Moscow – dining; marching through the gorgeous rooms in the Kreml.  Russia brings punch to the Eastern Med and has a fleet. Western Syria – middle class, between Damascus and Aleppo. Is Russia's goal to protect its base in Latakia?  Many unanswered questions. What's Iran's intention?  Israel looks at this and thinks, not good choice. When Iran gets its $150 bil and re-arms, then what? Iran/IRGC/Soleymani/Quds Force; then Shia militias from all over plus Cubans; for Israel, it's first goal is to keep its border quiet. You can look from Golan down on tanks; they come up to wave at cameras. Jordan:  pressure on border is immense, incl the threat of the Islamic State, plus al Nusrah and ISIS elements. Can the King stand up to this? The Palestinians who make up the majority are not quite trustworthy. He relies heavily n Israel for security, He's been able so far to sustain it even with millions in the camps. Lots of help from Saudis – GCC military coalition. A Muslim leader said: "I'm going with Putin because he keeps his word."
 
Hour Two
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 2, Block A: Ambassador David Roet, Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in re:  The irrational claim that the Wailing Wall is connected to al Aqsa. UN want to change Judeo-Christian names that have applied for thousands of years and clam them all as Muslim. Three weeks ago the SC had a resolution: the Temple Mount named as a Muslim holy place. They d not respect our religion, which is very dangerous, and will lead to blood. There are consequences, this is not an academic issue. War against Judaism. against Christianity.  Every three mos, a Middle East open meeting that winds up being almost entirely a slam against Israel. Disheartening while we see hundreds of thousands being killed in Syria, ISISI in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon; al Nusrah – no discussion, rather they blame Israel rather than discuss the real problems.  Note that they still claim that Israel is working to change the status of the Temple Mount, which is categorically wrong, untrue, in all respects.  France wants to install an intl presence in Jerusalem, which was not offered when it might have been useful and Israel rejects claims against its sovereignty. Children being incited by false claim that Jews - not Israel, Jews – are changing  the Temple Mount, so a thirteen-year-old goes and stabs a thirteen-year-old. Insanity.
Israel slams UNESCO vote on calling Western Wall Muslim  Muslim states’ proposal ‘an attempt to distort history,’ Foreign Ministry says in biting statement Israel said Monday that it is working to thwart a Palestinian bid to have the Western Wall in Jerusalem declared a Muslim holy site by the UN’s cultural body in a vote on Tuesday.  Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email  and never miss our top stories   FREE SIGN UP!  In a statement, the Foreign Ministry called the proposal “an attempt to distort history and blur the connection between the Jewish people and its holiest place and to create a false reality.”   The Western Wall is one of the few remnants of the ancient retaining wall that held up an artificial plateau on which a refurbished Second Temple stood in the reign of King Herod the Great. The Temple and much of the wall were later destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E.  For Jews, who are forbidden from praying on the Temple Mount by Israeli regulations, the Western Wall is the prayer site closest to the ancient site of the Holy of Holies inside the destroyed Temple. It is considered the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray.  According to Muslim tradition, the Temple Mount is where Mohammad tied the winged animal Buraq, which he rode on the night he ascended to heaven. Atop it lies the Dome of the Rock — a Muslim shrine — and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.  The proposal to recognize the adjoining Western Wall as a Muslim holy site was submitted by six Muslim countries on behalf of the Palestinians, according to a Ynet news report.  The proposal also calls for the international community to condemn Israel for urging “its citizens to bear arms in light of [the] recent terror wave,” as well as for recent actions . . .
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 2, Block B: Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, President of Risk Management Services (“RMS”); twice served as the New York City Police Commissioner, directed the Intl Police Force in Haiti, was Interpol VP, Commissioner of the US Customs Service, &  US Treasury Undersecretary of Enforcement; in re: Are you confident the NYPD has what it needs in place for when and if?  No guarantee is possible; but you don't know what you don't know. The train in France had an ubiquitous gun and nine magazines – could have killed hundreds of people.  Commissioner Kelly has a JD, is a graduate of the Kennedy School. 
NYPD sent reps internationally, first to Tel Aviv, whence we got granular info;   to Israel, Amman, Abu Dhabi, Lyons, Paris, London, Madrid, TUS leaving a por vacuum that Russia, Saudis and Iran are filling.  oronto, Montreal, and the Dominican Republic.  Law enforcement agencies around the world are now cooperating Numerous threats – people who wanted to kill Americans; some foiled by good work by FBI or NYPD. An indications that . . . .  there were sixteen grave plots foiled.  This challenge will remain with us for a long time. The threat has not diminished since 9/11; some of their grievances go back 1,400 years. Demographers say that the population turns over ten per cent every four years??
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 2, Block C: Boris Zilberman, FDD, in re:   Assad's trip to Moscow; Russia in Syria. In a Russian military jet over Iraq, Iran, Russian Federation; a fabulous meal (with champanskii, konyac and vodka?). All part of Putin's plan to prop him up and keep him in place until the sleight-of-hand Putin will use to remove him. Did US intell know?  Mebbe not . . .  Signals that the situation is sufficiently stabilized for Assad to leave the country for the first time since 2011.  No US arms embargo per se against arming Asssad.  Russian casualties? What will happen if they start bringing back body bags?  Russian media probably will suppress, but hard to suppress YouTube vids.  . . . US has no real plan.  By contrast, Putin has made his plans clear and followed through.  Saudi and Turkey? Saudis not happy – sending cheaper energy to Eastern Europe in a market war with Russia; also Saudi arms to rebel groups (that might target the Russians); but see Egypt growing closer to Russia, incl arms deals.  Russians working w Iraqis – a mtg of Iran, Russia, Syria and Iraq in Baghdad.   The Iran deal will strengthen the Iranian regime in the Middle East; the IRGC will gain money; therefore, the US is working with Russia. JCPOA: Soleymani to Moscow, only Russians could pull this together quickly. Washington and Moscow, shoulder to shoulder.
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 2, Block D: Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents, in re: it begins with a fiction, told by a man once elected president of the Palestinian Authority, that Jews will damage the Temple Mount: the Blue Mosque and the al Aqsa mosque. On a plateau where once stood the Second Temple; 'twas flattened by Herod.  Abbas says that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is "ours" – Muslims's.  Campaign eradicates a big chunk of Western history; also Jacob's tomb, Cave of the Patriarchs; all the holiest places for Jews and Christians.    Islam took 400 tons of antiquities which archaeologists are still sifting through Abbas knows that his tales are lies, tries to divert attention from his kleptocracy. UNESCO documents now have only Islamic references to Judeo-Christian sites.  The Knife Intifada is provoked by Abbas's lies – random attacks on civilians in streets, busses, anywhere. They know it's a fiction, they know it's a lie, and distribute charts illustrating where to stab people.   Influence of ISIS and its beheadings. Secy-Gen was in Iran, presented a plaque: the contribution included receiving Afghans, and that women are in university – where women have few rights, on the day that Iran shoots off a missile. 
 
Hour Three
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 3, Block A: Congressman Eliot Engel, Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; in re: Letter on incitement. Security in Israel.  Russia in Syria. Iranian missile.
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 3, Block B: Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, dir, Project on the Regional Implications of the Syrian Civil War at the Jerusalem Center; formerly Dir-Gen, Israel Min of Strategic Affairs & headed Research and Analysis and Production Division of IDF Military Intelligence; in re: Iran getting what it wants, not pleasing to most Middle Easterners.  Gen Soleimani in Moscow: a dangerous development.  Knife Intifada. Hamas, unlike Abu Mazen, calls for the use of firearms.  Palestinians, violence,  Temple Mount, Iranian missile test.
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 3, Block C: Civilian Warriors: The Inside Story of Blackwater and the Unsung Heroes of the War on Terror by Erik Prince (1 of 2)
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 3, Block D: Civilian Warriors: The Inside Story of Blackwater and the Unsung Heroes of the War on Terror by Erik Prince (2 of 2)
 
Hour Four
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 4, Block A: Alexander Rose, author, Men of War: The American Soldier in Combat at Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, and Iwo Jima. PART II of II (segment 1 of 4)
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 4, Block B: Alexander Rose, author, Men of War: The American Soldier in Combat at Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, and Iwo Jima. PART II of II (segment 2 of 4)
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 4, Block C: Alexander Rose, author, Men of War: The American Soldier in Combat at Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, and Iwo Jima. PART II of II (segment 3 of 4)
Thursday  22 October 2015 / Hour 4, Block D: Alexander Rose, author, Men of War: The American Soldier in Combat at Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, and Iwo Jima. PART II of II (segment 4 of 4)
 
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