If Trump was President, this war would never have started.
CURRENT EVENTS July 14 - July 31
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If Trump was President, this war would never have started.
lawtig02
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To keep my sanity knowing we have another 3.5 years of this to go, I'm trying to be intentional about giving Trump credit where it's due. He seems to be pretty good about putting out international military brushfires before they get too big. So far, it looks like the two conflicts referenced above have died down. And it would be great if his pressure causes Cambodia and Thailand to cool it as well.
Now, he hasn't been nearly as effective with the major conflicts that he promised he would resolve, especially Russia-Ukraine and Israel-whoever pisses them off that day. But putting out the brushfires is not nothing. So I'm happy to give credit to Trump for paying attention to those conflicts and exerting pressure to get them abated.
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Yesterday:
At least 38 killed in church attack in eastern DR Congo
The assault in Komanda city is believed to have been carried out by ADF rebels, wielding guns and machetes.
At least 38 killed in church attack in eastern DR Congo
The assault in Komanda city is believed to have been carried out by ADF rebels, wielding guns and machetes.
“… M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in the Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru district. The Congolese media outlet Actualite reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in “several localities” in Bwito on July 24.https://www.criticalthreats.org/bri...-review#_edn6a6c372dcb447fab365d2494dbffd9371 CTP is unable to verify the location of the localities. M23 has clashed regularly with Wazalendos and suspected Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) fighters in Bwito since mid-July when M23 launched an operation to recapture several areas. …”
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www.criticalthreats.org
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“… M23 said that it will not withdraw from occupied areas and set conditions for future peace talks with the DRC government. M23 officials held a press conference in Goma to debrief the Qatari-brokered declaration agreement on July 25.[ix] M23 claimed that the ceasefire provision in the agreement mandates that each side withdraws at least three miles from their positions on the frontline.[x] M23 accused the DRC government of “misleading communication” following the signing ceremony and said that it would regularly provide the media with alleged violations of the ceasefire by the DRC government.[xi]Yesterday:
At least 38 killed in church attack in eastern DR Congo
The assault in Komanda city is believed to have been carried out by ADF rebels, wielding guns and machetes.
—-At least 38 killed in church attack in eastern DR Congo
The assault in Komanda city is believed to have been carried out by ADF rebels, wielding guns and machetes.www.aljazeera.com
“… M23 clashed with pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters in the Bwito chiefdom in Rutshuru district. The Congolese media outlet Actualite reported that M23 clashed with Wazalendo fighters in “several localities” in Bwito on July 24.https://www.criticalthreats.org/bri...-review#_edn6a6c372dcb447fab365d2494dbffd9371 CTP is unable to verify the location of the localities. M23 has clashed regularly with Wazalendos and suspected Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) fighters in Bwito since mid-July when M23 launched an operation to recapture several areas. …”
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www.criticalthreats.org
M23 said that it has no plans to withdraw from occupied areas at the end of the talks.[xii]M23 conditioned the next stage of talks on the release and transfer of all M23 prisoners held by the DRC government to Goma.[xiii] M23 claimed that the DRC government had demanded that M23 withdraw from Lubero district in North Kivu in exchange for the release of M23 prisoners before the two sides signed the declaration agreement.[xiv]
M23 said that it aims to extend its administration to areas outside of the Kivu provinces. M23 claimed that the “restoration of state authority” provision in the declaration agreement means that M23 will extend its “security model” in occupied areas to the “entire national territory,” including to Kinshasa, the Congolese capital—over 1,000 miles away from the eastern DRC.[xv]M23 said that the “root causes” of the security crisis can only be addressed with a “new leadership [in the DRC government] made up of different political actors. ”[xvi]M23 claimed that federalism was a major part of the Qatari-mediated discussions and that it would continue to push federalism as the “best form of state that can make this country take off.”[xvii] M23 said that it will seek to integrate Congolese army soldiers into M23’s ranks in areas that it occupies as part of a peace agreement.[xviii] M23 also denounced the DRC government’s aggressive measures against former DRC President Joseph Kabila.[xix]…”
BUT
How Trump wants the US to cash in on mineral-rich DR Congo's peace deal
DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal: How Trump wants US companies to cash in - BBC News
The US president is spearheading an ambitious but controversial deal to end a long-running conflict.
www.bbc.com
“… [The Trump Admin’s] mediation efforts come as no surprise, as DR Congo - a nation in the heart of Africa - is endowed with the mineral wealth that the US requires to power the IT, and now AI, revolutions, much of which is currently going to China.
… US-based World Peace Foundation executive director Prof Alex de Waal told the BBC that the Trump administration was promoting "a new model of peace-making, combining a populist performance with commercial deal-making".
"Trump has done this in Ukraine also. He wants to get the glory to boost his own political standing, and to secure minerals that are in America's interests," Prof De Waal said.
However, he noted that "in DR Congo, China has already snapped up many of the minerals so the US is playing catch-up".
He said that up to now US companies had been cautious about investing in DR Congo because of safety concerns and the "moral hazard" of dealing in so-called "blood minerals" - minerals financing rebellions - but this could change as the Trump administration implemented its peace model.
… He added that the Trump administration's peace model could not be dismissed out of hand, especially if it stops fighting that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions of others in conflicts that have raged for more than 30 years in eastern DR Congo.
But Prof Hanri Mostert, an academic on mineral law at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, told the BBC that DR Congo "risked compromising sovereignty over its minerals".
DR Congo could find itself locked into deals for years, in exchange for vague guarantees of security, she said.
This was reminiscent of the "resource-bartering" deals pursued by China and Russia in numerous African states, Prof Mostert added.…”
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“… While Rwanda denies backing the M23, it says it wants to wipe out the FDLR, a militia born from those who carried out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and then fled into DR Congo. Rwanda has accused the Congolese army of working with the FDLR.“… M23 said that it will not withdraw from occupied areas and set conditions for future peace talks with the DRC government. M23 officials held a press conference in Goma to debrief the Qatari-brokered declaration agreement on July 25.[ix] M23 claimed that the ceasefire provision in the agreement mandates that each side withdraws at least three miles from their positions on the frontline.[x] M23 accused the DRC government of “misleading communication” following the signing ceremony and said that it would regularly provide the media with alleged violations of the ceasefire by the DRC government.[xi]
M23 said that it has no plans to withdraw from occupied areas at the end of the talks.[xii]M23 conditioned the next stage of talks on the release and transfer of all M23 prisoners held by the DRC government to Goma.[xiii] M23 claimed that the DRC government had demanded that M23 withdraw from Lubero district in North Kivu in exchange for the release of M23 prisoners before the two sides signed the declaration agreement.[xiv]
M23 said that it aims to extend its administration to areas outside of the Kivu provinces. M23 claimed that the “restoration of state authority” provision in the declaration agreement means that M23 will extend its “security model” in occupied areas to the “entire national territory,” including to Kinshasa, the Congolese capital—over 1,000 miles away from the eastern DRC.[xv]M23 said that the “root causes” of the security crisis can only be addressed with a “new leadership [in the DRC government] made up of different political actors. ”[xvi]M23 claimed that federalism was a major part of the Qatari-mediated discussions and that it would continue to push federalism as the “best form of state that can make this country take off.”[xvii] M23 said that it will seek to integrate Congolese army soldiers into M23’s ranks in areas that it occupies as part of a peace agreement.[xviii] M23 also denounced the DRC government’s aggressive measures against former DRC President Joseph Kabila.[xix]…”
BUT
How Trump wants the US to cash in on mineral-rich DR Congo's peace deal
DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal: How Trump wants US companies to cash in - BBC News
The US president is spearheading an ambitious but controversial deal to end a long-running conflict.
“… [The Trump Admin’s] mediation efforts come as no surprise, as DR Congo - a nation in the heart of Africa - is endowed with the mineral wealth that the US requires to power the IT, and now AI, revolutions, much of which is currently going to China.
… US-based World Peace Foundation executive director Prof Alex de Waal told the BBC that the Trump administration was promoting "a new model of peace-making, combining a populist performance with commercial deal-making".
"Trump has done this in Ukraine also. He wants to get the glory to boost his own political standing, and to secure minerals that are in America's interests," Prof De Waal said.
However, he noted that "in DR Congo, China has already snapped up many of the minerals so the US is playing catch-up".
He said that up to now US companies had been cautious about investing in DR Congo because of safety concerns and the "moral hazard" of dealing in so-called "blood minerals" - minerals financing rebellions - but this could change as the Trump administration implemented its peace model.
… He added that the Trump administration's peace model could not be dismissed out of hand, especially if it stops fighting that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions of others in conflicts that have raged for more than 30 years in eastern DR Congo.
But Prof Hanri Mostert, an academic on mineral law at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, told the BBC that DR Congo "risked compromising sovereignty over its minerals".
DR Congo could find itself locked into deals for years, in exchange for vague guarantees of security, she said.
This was reminiscent of the "resource-bartering" deals pursued by China and Russia in numerous African states, Prof Mostert added.…”
The peace deal spells out that the FDLR should be "neutralised", however this has been attempted several times over the past three decades.
"For Rwanda, the neutralisation of the FDLR is a precondition for the withdrawal of its forces, while DR Congo says the two must be achieved simultaneously," Mr Sematumba pointed out, saying that mediators would have to find a solution as these issues had led to the failure of previous peace initiatives.
"Just by following the different interpretations given by the parties to the texts signed, you can sense all the difficulties that lie ahead," Mr Sematumba said.…”
——
This is an immensely complicated situation. I’m glad that Trump seems focused on seeking peace in the region but it should not be reported or described as something already accomplished. The parties have taken several key first steps but the initial gains are fragile and as true and lasting peace there will likely take a long and arduous process …
1moretimeagain
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At a PC today Coach Prime announced he is cancer free following bladder removal surgery. He said he now “depends on Depends.”
Mulberry Heel
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If Trump had only been elected president at the beginning of civilization, there would never have been any wars! The world would only have known peace and prosperity for thousands of years!
Mulberry Heel
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Sadly, this has become a regular, expected weekly news story from the Religious Right, and in some weeks there are multiple stories along these lines. Maybe instead of worrying about transgenders using women's restrooms, people should be worrying about these kinds of folks being near their kids.
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There is a reason why "Baptist Youth Minister" is all but a synonym for pedophile.
1moretimeagain
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Taiwan’s President got TACO’d.
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“… Odner said, “I cannot think of a more ubiquitous symbol of American exceptionalism in the arts, entertainment, and popular culture at large than President Trump.”
House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee approved an amendment earlier this month to the interior, environment and related agencies annual spending bill that would rename a space inside the Kennedy Center — the prominent Washington arts hub’s famed opera house — the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.”
… The Kennedy Center opened its doors to the public in 1971. It describes its namesake Kennedy on its website as a “lifelong supporter and advocate of the arts” who “frequently steered the public discourse toward what he called ‘our contribution to the human spirit.'”
According to the institution, two months after Kennedy’s 1963 assassination, “Congress passed and President Johnson signed into law legislation renaming the National Cultural Center… as a ‘living memorial’ to Kennedy.”…”
JCTarheel82
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