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JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
 
Hour One
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 1, Block A: Francis Rose, WMAL radio in Washington; in re: Good reason not to trust what  the VA says – specifically, not what the head of the VA says – Robert McDonnell has made statements on TV of purported facts that ain't.  He says the VA is working on the problem of disciplining errant employees, at the Natl Press Club last week: "Against 300 individuals for manipulating scheduling" – 'twastn't 300, was three; and the number fired was three; but as the Washington Post digs in further, ascertained that the accurate number of conspicuously malfeasant employees was 27.  Bizarre and unreliable. Translation: fraudulent.   In February, McDonnell said on natl TV: "Nine hundred people have been fired since I've been Secretary" – what?  Congressional Committees working in tandem find the same number s problems that WaPo does.    GOP debating in Milwaukee as we speak; one of the candidates from a party will inherit the problem.  / Nov 2: Two VA employees refused to testify – plead the Fifth - on charges that they'd removed other employees and stolen the job for some executive who wanted that position – at the same exaggerated exec salary.  Whoa.
     The VA issues that the 45th president's administration must attend, starting with transparency and trustworthiness:
VA secretary misstates the number of wait-time manipulation disciplinary actions — again - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/10/va-secretary-misstates-the-number-of-wait-time-manipulation-disciplinary-actions-again/
“We have proposed disciplinary action against 300 individuals for manipulating scheduling.”
—Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald, speech at National Press Club, Nov. 6, 2015 / During his speech at the National Press Club, McDonald bemoaned the lack of fact-checking of numbers that are used in relation to veterans issues: “I just wish that there would be more fact-checking on some of the numbers that are used, because there are a lot of myths out there,” he said.
VA sec. says VA proposed discipline for 300 in wait-time scandal, but it’s only 24 -  “VA secretary says 300 in wait-time scandal to be disciplined; records disagree,”
In reality, VA has successfully fired just three people for manipulating wait times - “VA secretary exaggerates number of employees fired in wait time scandal,”
Not the first time VA has tried to fool people with phony accountability claims - “No, the VA has not fired 60 people for manipulating wait-time data,”
There's a specific incident where discipline, and fine, and perhaps even jail time may be appropriate: it's called larceny
2 VA officials refuse to testify on job-manipulation claims - http://bigstory.ap.org/article/08476dcffd7d4b8c98b9de7f7a151bd6/va-officials-face-house-hearing-job-manipulation-claims
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 1, Block B:  Sebastian v Gorka, Marine Corps University in Doha at a CENTCOM conference on ISIS, in re: US, UK and Russian intell all acknowledge that the Metrojet en route to St Petersburg probably was brought down by a bomb in the aft section.  Pressure on Russia to respond spectacularly.   ISIS at Aleppo: put out a vid congratulating ISIS of Sinai or of Egypt for the deaths.  If it proves to be true, then ISIS has changed tactics.  For three years, a regional playbook followed the doctrinal guide book of Abu Bakr Naji who'd written an ebook: The Management of Savagery.  Textbook on how to bld the caliphate – in phases of operation. First, establish territorial control over lands "Consolidation phase."  Looks as though ISIS has been successful at Phase One moving on to Two: export violent in less insurgent, more terrorist, ways. In direct competition w al Q, in al Q's modus operandi.  Even the UN, which lowballs its numbers, says ISIS has recruited 22,00 foreign fighters; of those, 4,000 were Westerners  (Brits, EU, US) – with their passports.  Red-teaming: What would we do if we were the bad guys? Al Baghdadi sitting in his lair?  See the floods of refugees, then send the "travellers," as the FBI says, then send them back into motherlands to be a Fifth Column.  The Charlie Hebdo deed can be expected around the US, Europe, Australia, etc.  The Office of the Caliph means something, they'll assert.   / http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/09/middleeast/russian-plane-crash-egypt-sinai/
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 1, Block C:  Molly O'Toole, Defense One, in re Extensive coverage of the Obama administration's struggles to close the infamous Guantanamo prison; "Beyond Guantanamo," looks beyond the obstacles addressing the detainees currently held there to the bigger challenge: What does the U.S. do with tomorrow's prisoners in a war without end? 
Senate passed the Natl Defense Act (NDAA), includes a prohibition anent the Gitmo detainees: extenss existing prohibitions and adds new ones. Preserves the obstacle: a ban on transfers to the US OR on using funds to bld new of modify existing facilities to bring in Gitmo prisoners.  . .  Ash Carter and Lisa Monaco [counterterrorism expert]  blueprint – "the plan is coming"  was repeated for months.  . . .  Checked prisons around the US in a handful of states; most unwelcome.  . . . 53 0f 112 detaineees are said to be welcome (so to speak) in a particular host country, not identified.  "Irreducible minimum " ("worst of the worst") cannot be transferred to another country – too dangerous.  Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others.  Majority of these haven't been charged.  We have no idea where proceedings will occur.
Recent Guantanamo coverage:  White House Won’t Rule Out Vetoing Defense Authorization Bill (Again) over Guantanamo ; Pentagon Transfers Detainee to Mauritania, Leaving 113 at Guantanamo ; As Search for ‘Gitmo North’ Heats Up, Lawmakers Go Full NIMBY ; White House Delays Plan to Close Guantanamo amid Search for US Alternative ; White House, Ash Carter, Drafting a Guantanamo Closure Plan for Congress, McCain Says
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 1, Block D:  Coral Davenport, NYT, in re: Citing Climate Change, Obama Rejects Construction of Keystone XL Oil Pipeline   The president’s decision was a major victory for environmentalists and a bitter loss for the oil industry.
 
Hour Two
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 2, Block A: Stephen F. Cohen is Prof. Emeritus of Russian Studies/History/Politics at NYU and Princeton. He is also a member of the Board of the recently-formed American Committee for East-West Accord (eastwestaccord.com); in re:
US NATO Commander says deterring Russia is one of the greatest military challenges since the end of the Cold War goo.gl/2hz5dg  ;  Kiev redeploys two squadrons of combat helicopters to Donbas ...  MOSCOW, November 10. /TASS/. The reconnaissance service of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in the southeast of ...  ;  Kiev has enough gas to last 4 days – Gazprom CEO He says this is due to Kiev's financial straits, and that Ukraine's prepaid gas will run out on Saturday. Ukraine's gas company Naftogaz has ...  ;  Ukraine to buy Russian gas only at reasonable price — Naftogaz
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 2, Block B: Stephen F. Cohen is Prof. Emeritus of Russian Studies/History/Politics at NYU and Princeton. He is also a member of the Board of the recently-formed American Committee for East-West Accord (eastwestaccord.com); in re:
Syria and world await Putin's reaction to apparent bombing of ...  More than a month after Russia began airstrikes against targets in Syria, western capitals remain uncertain of Vladimir Putin's endgame in the ...  ;  Exclusive: Russia to propose Syrians launch 18-month reform ... ; Abstract ideas on Syria regime change to make Vienna meeting ... ;  Russia has not worked on special Syria document - deputy foreign ... ; Confirmation of Attack on Russian Jet May Strengthen Putin's ...
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 2, Block C: Stephen F. Cohen is Prof. Emeritus of Russian Studies/History/Politics at NYU and Princeton. He is also a member of the Board of the recently-formed American Committee for East-West Accord (eastwestaccord.com); in re:
Russia's intervention in Syria: Protracting an already endless conflict (Charles Lister) ;  American Policy in the Middle East: Obama's Last Year and a Look Ahead
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 2, Block D: Stephen F. Cohen is Prof. Emeritus of Russian Studies/History/Politics at NYU and Princeton. He is also a member of the Board of the recently-formed American Committee for East-West Accord (eastwestaccord.com); in re: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/10/syria-world-putin-bombing-russian-jet
 
Hour Three
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 3, Block A: Simon Constable, OZY, in re: How Henry VIII Spawned Capitalism “What’s that smell?” I asked my dad as we approached Rievaulx Abbey on a visit to Yorkshire, England. “It’s wild garlic,” he said — which I’d later learn was a surprising crop to find so far north, though the story behind the monastery would prove even more surprising.
The monastery was established in 1132 by Cistercian monks from France’s Clairvaux Abbey and remained in operation until the 1500s. But it plays a part in a uniquely English story — one that begins, as many do, with church and crown but ends with the Industrial Revolution.
The forced closure of Rievaulx, and many places like it, spurred the growth of enterprise in England, eventually bringing the country enormous wealth, according to new research from the Massachusetts-based National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). And who gets credit for crushing England’s monasteries and planting the earliest seeds of modern-day capitalism? Henry VIII — the man recently voted the worst monarch ever by the British Historical Writers Association. “He was not the genially amusing figure of fun that Americans sometimes suppose,” says professor Deirdre McCloskey from the University of Illinois, Chicago. “He was a rank tyrant, operating like his somewhat later contemporary Ivan the Terrible,” she says, noting how he unleashed a form of economic terror on the church.
http://www.ozy.com/flashback/how-englands-worst-king-spawned-capitalism/65014#.VkGuksVkzy4.facebook
“He was a rank tyrant, operating like his somewhat-later contemporary Ivan the Terrible.”
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Tonight, the remaining hopefuls seeking the Republican nomination for president will gather in Milwaukee for a two-hour-long Republican debate. The stage won't be quite so crowded this time around: Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee have been relegated to the undercard debate this time around, while several candidates who previously participated in the undercard have been dropped due to low polling numbers. (Scott Walker and Rick Perry have already announced they've decided to end their campaigns.)
Candidates: Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump.
Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum appeared in the undercard debate this time around; that began at 6/7 PM Central.
Moderators: Neil Cavuto (Fox), Maria Bartiromo (Fox) and Gerard Baker (The Wall Street Journal).
 
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 3, Block B:  Larry Kudlow, CNBC and Cumulus Media, Steve Moore, Heritage Foundation, in re: tonight's GP debate (1 of 2)
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 3, Block C: Larry Kudlow, CNBC and Cumulus Media, Steve Moore, Heritage Foundation, in re: tonight's GP debate (2 of 2)
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 3, Block D: Bill Whalen, Hoover, via Forbes; Mary Kissel, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board & host of Opinion Journal on WSJ Video; and David M Drucker, Washington Examiner, in re: Republicans Should Stay Out of the Letter-Writing Business The best thing about the debate over the future of Republican presidential debates is after Tuesday’s gathering in Milwaukee (Fox Business/Wall Street Journal co-hosting), we get a month’s reprieve before the GOP hopefuls muster for a Dec. 15 session in Nevada.  Undercard as well as the main event - Huckabee and Santorum won the Iowa caucuses in 2008 and 2012, respectively. Jindal and Christie are the two immediate past chairmen of the Republican Governors Association. "There's no question this is the most important undercard debate yet," a Jindal backer said. "You have the past two Iowa winners with the past two RGA chairmen."
 
Hour Four
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 4, Block A: To Hell and Back: The Last Train from Hiroshima (Asia/Pacific/Perspectives), by Charles Pellegrino Part Two of Three (segment 1 of 4)
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 4, Block B: To Hell and Back: The Last Train from Hiroshima (Asia/Pacific/Perspectives), by Charles Pellegrino Part Two of Three (segment 2 of 4)
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 4, Block C: To Hell and Back: The Last Train from Hiroshima (Asia/Pacific/Perspectives), by Charles Pellegrino Part Two of Three (segment 3 of 4)
Tuesday 10 November 2015 / Hour 4, Block D: To Hell and Back: The Last Train from Hiroshima (Asia/Pacific/Perspectives), by Charles Pellegrino Part Two of Three (segment 4 of 4)    http://www.amazon.com/Hell-Back-Hiroshima-Pacific-Perspectives/dp/1442250585/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447129319&sr=8-1&keywords=To+Hell+and+Back%3A+The+Last+Train+from+Hiroshima+by+Charles+Pellegrino