Photo, left: Hiroshima after the bomb, 6 August 1945
JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
Hour One
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 1, Block A: Michael Ledeen, FDD, in re: Pres Obama said that the Iran deal is good because it's the "hard-liners" who oppose the deal, so "the IRGC is making common cause with the Republican caucus."  This is beyond partisanship; it's ugly agitprop.  It's inappropriate, wrong, a total violation of tradition and good manners.   Btw, there exists no Republican caucus (its called a conference). More to the point, Pres Obama made the deal with Khamenei.  Pres Obama has [craved] to land in Teheran and embrace Khamenei [in a Nixon-China moment] since before Day One.   . . . He doesn't care about any others's opinion, either foreign or domestic. He says, "It's my way or war." – but it's been war for thirty ears.  I think this is a low point in the American presidency – I'm shocked at the tone; it bespeaks panic.  It's dawning on him that he may lose this thing, and this thing is his dream. 
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 1, Block B:  Larry Johnson,  NoQuarter, in re: Chinook helo shot down with 16 Navy SEALS over Afghanistan, 30 American deaths and 8 Afghan deaths.  Accusation that the Taliban, who fired the RPG, were tipped off, that it was retaliation against the operation against bin Laden in Pakistan a few months earlier.  Tier  1 unit may be ferried around only by ___16 . The man who was flying was considered not to be able, and I was at night; if you're fired on at night and take the wrong evasive action, you're in trouble, and we think that's what happened.  The investigation into this is "stonewalled" at the White House.  That SEAL team should not have been on that helicopter – the pilot and co-pilot were not competent to fly with night-vision goggles – and to make matters work, that SEAL team was not provided with night-vision goggles and had to buy their own! Further, in view of the team's extremely special training – "like a surgeon's knife" –it should not have been sent where a machete was needed.   . . .  This was a huge, major, enormous screw-up – and no one is held accountable. 
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 1, Block C: Sohrab Amari WSJ, in re: How did Obama manage to shift the Iran debate this far in Tehran's favor? My essay in current @Commentary explains commentarymagazine.com/article/the-36…
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 1, Block D: Charles Pellegrino, author (Last Train from Hiroshima) and explorer, in re: the seventieth anniversary of Hiroshima.  August 6, 1945: Uranium bomb dropped at 8:15 AM (JST).  . . .  Some people left Hiroshima after the bombing, took a train to Nagasaki – and survived the second bomb. These are called "double survivors."  Most of the young people, including single-survivors, were on work detail to tear down houses to build firebreaks against possible firebombing.  One young girl, Tamiko Morimoto, survived; Charlie met her five years ago and heard her story. 
"Just returned from the 70th anniversary Hiroshima memorial service at New York's Society for Ethical Culture. It included perhaps the most beautiful rendition of Ave Maria I've ever heard, during which I could only think of the "burnt Maria" at Urakami Cathedral. Having known through the years more than 100 survivors, the moment of silence during the 43 seconds the bomb dropped brought to mind rolling flash-overs of where each name was, on the map, and what was about to happen to them during the next 20 minutes, 70 years ago today. If everyone could know even ten of those names and places, and visualize it at that moment, there would never be another atomic bombing. 
"Tomiko Morimoto West spoke to us. I had interviewed her in 2010. Her experience was much the same as that of other student work-crew survivors at her radius from the hypocenter. But tonight she told a story that she had kept to herself until correspondence with a friend just this week. She was 13 at the time, a typical teenager for any time in history. On the morning of the first atomic bomb, she argued with her mother, and she had no way of knowing, as she angrily slammed the door on her way to her school work detail, that she would never see her mother again. Her lesson to us all - to all families tonight - and as a hibakusha (the exposed) was: never, ever to say goodbye to a loved one without a sign of love; and especially in these times when, if our leaders are unwise, and fail to pay attention, we could all become hibakusha, anywhere, at any moment."
Of all the survivors I've met, of Japanese bombs and WWII Holocaust, almost everyone has devoted his life to helping others. 
[Joan Rivers: "Don't go to bed angry. Stay up and argue!"]
Hour Two
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 2, Block A: Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents, in re: Unconfirmed reports that Sen Schumer will oppose the Iran deal, whereas Sen Gillibrand will almost surely support it. Nita Lowey (Westchester, NY), Mrs Clinton's congressman, opposes. Same with Steve Israel. Ted Deutsch, Eliot Engel, and others.   Satellite pix of enormous earth-moving at the Parchin nuclear site in Iran.  Note that years ago they removed a great deal of soil and put six layers of concrete there to conceal the nuclear activity; now trying to remove even more.  Kassam Suleymani* ["the blood-soaked one"], responsible for many American deaths, and sanctioned internationally, was in Russia on 14 July: not allowed to travel under current intl sanctions but Russia busts the sanctions; if this high-visibility person could travel with nothing done to stop him,  doubt the entire structure.
*Qasem Soleimani (Persian: قاسم سلیمانی‎, born 11 March 1957) is a major general in the Iranian Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC) and since 1998 commander of its Quds Force—a division primarily responsible for extraterritorial military and clandestine operations.
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 2, Block B: Ali Afoneh, FDD, in re: Khamenei’s new book, Palestine.  . . . In some speeches, Khamenei is speaking of Muslim obligation to hold Jews as enemies – bizarre, since most Iranians are not anti-Jewish, Sounds like the obsession of the Hitlerites – a sickness that ld them to extremely violent decisions throughout their lives. Is this also Khamenei? He uses Israel to mobilize the population against and enemy. Hitler was ready to annihilate his own population; in the Thirties, he was surrounded by men who used anti-Jewishness as a [raison d'etre] – unstable men; and the American president today is making alliances with unstable men.
http://nypost.com/2015/08/01/iran-publishes-book-on-how-to-outwit-us-and... http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/ali-alfoneh-shiite-combat-casua...   ;  http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/ali-alfoneh-irans-expendable-pr...
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 2, Block C: Ilan Berman, American Foreign Policy Council, in re: Historical precedents of the Iran deal. The amount of cash being released is $140 billion? More? less? This Administration is [weaselly] on providing different numbers.  Some say that the combination could reach $600 billion: new trade and ne contracts approach astronomical numbers.  Much reduces Iran's incentive to cease bad actions Meanwhile, in Argentina, much boasting that the new cash will flow directly into the hands of local malfeasants; same boasting in Mexico.  red meat to throw to the IRGC and others in Iran who oppose the deal. Pres Rouhani comes out of this strengthened iff Khamenei doesn't wind up opposing the deal.   . . .  It helps Baghdad politicos who ______, but not Baghdad as a whole, as it's a giant step back for Iraqi sovereignty.   What Iran is doing is mapping out a global strategy, focused much on Asia, esp North Korea as a nuclear partner. Kassam Suleymani, "the blood-soaked one." . . .  Russia wants Iran to return to the Persian culture; are concerned about Iran's capacity to foment jihadism in their own Near-Abroad, but Moscow hopes to be able to nullify that threat.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/07/28/flood-cash-iran-dwarfs-...    ;  http://www.ilanberman.com/17616/the-iran-nuclear-deal-and-its-impact-on-... http://www.ilanberman.com/17648/the-iran-north-korea-strategic-alliance
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 2, Block D: Emanuele Ottolenghi, FDD, in re: Execution of Khomeini’s Order (EIKO): a network that stretches globally to multiple country. He has $95 billion dollars in accounts he controls, uses as his slush fund; with this the Supreme Leader holds power and finances Iranian adventurism.  As soon as implementation of deal begins, his companies can reap financial benefits of the deal and be used as instruments. Why are his companies being provided relief immediately in the deal? Because the Supreme Leader reaps the rewards of this massive financial empire.  IRGC-led takeover f the whole economy?  They control 25040% f the economy; the SL contols a lot of the rest. However, their influence is so pervasive across every sector that the IRGC can sway things the way they want buy off official, finance hteir own activities. Could Suleymani take over? With Khamenei being so well-disposed toward them, they don't need to take over formally, as they have a hue say over events; and they can influene the choice of his successor. Could this be he eve of a military coup?  Lifting sanctions prematurely this way relieves the pressure to have Iran conducts itself well – the American president has made a deal that enormously benefits the Supreme Ayatollah, a man an sick with anti-Judais,m.
Hour Three
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 3, Block A: Mary Kissel, Wall Street Journal editorial board & host of OpinionJournal.com, & Bill Whalen, Hoover, in re:  A Rapid Response team comments on tonight's Republican debate in Cleveland.  John Kasich said economic growth is the key to everything. Marco Rubio: replace Dodd-Frank.  Rubio vs Cruz on immigration; Bush vs Rubio on common core; Chris Christie went after Rand Paul on the metadata matter, Ben Carson & Rand Paul weakest performers but did contribute.  Seven people in first panel, ten in the second; relevant; Fiorina, Huckabee, Walker, Rubio, Kasich. Christie did well ion foreign policy and entitlement reform.  Fiorina defined a conservative: thinks everyone deserves an equal chance; progressives think some people are better than others and should tell you what to do. 
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 3, Block B:  Aren Maeir, Bar Ilan University, & Tel es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project dir, in re: Philistines: Gath, halfway between Jerusalem and Ashkelon.  Gof is the home of Goliath, and is the city where David went while escaping from King Saul.  We've been digging for twenty years; Philistines were a sophisticated and advanced culture, esp in comparison to the Israelites, who were in small villages while Philistines were in large cities.   Earliest Philistine inscriptions : one has two non-Semitic names (probably an Indo-European language) gives credibility to Biblical story that Philistines came from somewhere near Greece.   Have uncovered  the biggest gate that's been found.  Book of Amos (760 BCE): walls that collapsed in a uniform manner.  Philistines seafaring? They came from Greece & Cyprus, settled in Israel in the beginning of the Iron Age.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.haaretz.com/beta/.premium-1.669425   ;   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3185125/Giant-gates-Goliath-s-home-discovered-Monumental-fortification-belonging-Biblical-city-Philistine-Gath-unearthed.html  ;  http://www.livescience.com/51737-goliath-city-gates-uncovered-israel.html
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 3, Block C: Eliot Engel (NY-16) top Democrat in  House Foreign Affairs Committee, in re:  I've weighed [considerations] and cannot support the deal.  This comes in the same day as Chuck Schumer's speaking.  Suleymani the Bloody was in Russia yesterday; the sanctions are already dissolving.  During the last few years while Iran had no money it supported terrorism in Hamas Hezbollah, Yemenis, many others – now it'll be awash in money and clearly will support [the worst organizations]. This deal doesn't prevent Iran's becoming a nuclear power; Hollande (Audibert) said plainly that waiting for the next deal will bring a better deal. Commercial and govt satellite evidence the Iran is doing mass earth-moving right now to conceal nuclear activities at Parchin before the IAEA can arrive later this year. Another indication of how Ian cheats and lies.   Undeclared sites: Iran can delay inspection for 24 days.  There are 40,000 Iranian agents throughout South America, incl Venezuela and Argentina . 
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 3, Block D: Jonathan Speyer, Middle East Forum, in re:  Kurds, Turks, Iranians and Iraqis.
Hour Four
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 4, Block A: Gregory Copley, StrategicStudies director; GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs; & author, UnCivilization, in re: http://www.voanews.com/content/nigerian-president-buhari-to-meet-with-obama-on-us-trip/2870041.html (1 of 2)
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 4, Block B: Gregory Copley, StrategicStudies director; GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs; & author, UnCivilization, in re: Buhari Begins His Crackdown on Corrupt Nigerian Officials .   Analysis. From GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs,  Abuja: Nigerian Pres. Muhammadu Buhari’s promised crackdown on corruption was, by the beginning of August 2015, under way with a vengeance, and there is every indication that it will grow in intensity. The scale of theft by officials of the former government of Pres. Goodluck Jonathan is likely to scandalize both the Nigerian and the international media. This Service earlier reported that the theft of actual funds could exceed $100-billion1, but there are indications subsequently that the amount could be between $110-billion and $150-billion.
Nigerian Pres. Buhari’s term in office seemed to begin slowly. Already, more than two months into his term, he had not appointed a single Cabinet minister, and was not expected to do so until September 2015. However, things of a very significant nature are beginning to happen, and were set in motion before Pres. Buhari left Abuja for his visit to Washington, DC, on July 20, 2015, to meet with US Pres. Barack Obama.
By July 13, 2015 — very pointedly in advance of his Washington visit — Pres. Buhari had replaced his National Security Advisor (NSA), Col. (rtd.) Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (who had been appointed on June 22, 2012, by then-Pres. Goodluck Jonathan), the three Armed Services chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency. (2 0f 2)
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 4, Block C:  Jerry Hendrix, Senior Fellow and the Director of Defense Strategies and Assessments Program, Center for a New American Security, in re:
Malaysia Seeks Amicable Solution for China Sea Dispute  Malaysia on Tuesday called for more efforts to find a peaceful solution to rising tensions in the disputed South China Sea, as the U.S. and the Philippines said they would demand that China stop land reclamation and other actions there. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi defended Beijing's moves, saying they were in Chinese territory and that there should be no double standards on the issue, in reference to land reclamation work by other claimants. He urged all parties to support China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations in speeding up negotiations for a code of conduct that governs behavior in the resource-rich and busy waterway. "It's not a constructive move to exercise double standards on the issue," Wang told reporters. "China and ASEAN are capable enough to work together to maintain the peace and stability in the South China Sea."
China, Taiwan and several ASEAN members - the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei - have wrangled over ownership and control of the South China Sea in a conflict that has flared on and off for decades. Tensions rose last year when China began to build artificial islands in the Spratly Islands, which the U.S. and Beijing's rival claimant countries fear could impede freedom of navigation and overflights in a major transit area for the world's oil and merchandise. The disputes have led . . .
U.S. Says Europeans Could Help More in South China Sea Dispute  In a rare admonishment of a close ally, the United States urged the European Union on Wednesdayto speak out more forcefully to support Washington in its dispute with China over building and militarization of man-made outposts in the South China Sea.  Amy Searight, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia, said Washington welcomed EU calls for a peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the sea and respect for international law. But there was "somewhat of a difference of approach" when it came to Washington's call for a freeze on activity by rival claimants – something China has rejected.
"It would be helpful if the EU would be a little more clear in terms of backing up these principles," she told a discussion on U.S. and EU policies toward East Asia at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. "A little bit more forward-leaning approach that would support, for example, the idea of a halt to further reclamation, further militarization, would be very useful." Michael Fuchs, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia, said there was a need to reduce the risks of conflict in the South China Sea, where China has overlapping claims with several states. "This is about ... speaking up when we see activity that is concerning," he said. David O'Sullivan, EU ambassador to Washington, said the European Union and the United States had very similar objectives, but such statements were a judgment call.
Japan Admiral Warns of China's Military Influence in S. China Sea   The commander of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force warned Wednesday of the possibility that the entire South China Sea could be "covered by China's sphere of military influence" if Beijing uses artificial islands it has built there for military purposes.  In a speech delivered at a think tank in Washington, Adm. Tomohisa Takei underlined the importance of ensuring that the South China Sea is "free and open waters" all the time to "make the Indo-Pacific 'Ocean of Prosperity..." Should the freedom of navigation be threatened, Takei warned that "an unexpected incident at sea can occur as a result."
Navy Needs More Ships to Protect Sea Lanes, Retired PACOM Admiral Says. The U.S. Navy is too small for the job expected of it, according to a retired Navy admiral and a defense analyst.  Speaking in a July 28 teleconference sponsored by the Navy League’s “America’s Strength” campaign, retired ADM Timothy J. Keating, former commander of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), and Mackenzie Eaglen, a defense analyst at the Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute, said the Navy is overextended and needs more ships to meet presence requirements and protect the vital sea lanes through which most of the world’s commerce flows.  (1 of 2)
Thursday  6 August  2015  / Hour 4, Block D: :  Jerry Hendrix, Senior Fellow and the Director of Defense Strategies and Assessments Program, Center for a New American Security (2 of 2)