The time is now for infrastructure development of West Coast, US

It has been forwarded to me that there's an immediate need for the United States to develop the Western Coast for a vast increase of trade and commerce to the countries in the East, especially with China and Korea, Japan, etc.  Eventually, I would hope the US would join the TPP once again.

The issue is critical, according to the reports I've just received from the Orient.  The trade channels are being drawn now!!  It won't do that the country forestalls until Trump is out of the picture.  Somebody's got to give approval to the project that will greatly increase the potential of the Western states to handle water and sea traffic from the Pacific countries---I've already said I would relocate to California if I'm needed there more than in DC!  The issue is to launch an upgrade reconstruction NOW! (I would think it might be necessary to also build a second maritime channel across Panama.)

On my opinion, time is of the essence.  The fires in California are horrendous, but the cost of lost trade is a hundred-fold worse; and both are preventable events in the offing.   
         

Whack-O Theory of 10/24/19: The European Union has untold value!

What the EU gives to smaller countries is a place among the big countries of Europe.  My Whack-O Theory is to see the EU as a place for small nations, and even not-really typically considered nations. to function among a community of nations.  After the demise of the Soviet Union, satellites became independent states though clustered in a Russian Federation, each state on its own but sharing with one another as allowed by the EU format.

Albania, Macedonia both are seeking membership in the EU.  But I can imagine that opportunity being offered to those regions in Europe longing for independence to pursue their own cultures and trade and commerce opportunities in their own right: for instance, Catalan in Spain, Scotland in Great Britain.  A region which has economic wherewithal to be independent should be given the chance.  Nothing but good can from the experience of being free.
   

Turkey was by-passed for EU membership; The Country is showing 'em, now!

I recall a blog item I wrote when it became clear to me that the EU would never accept Turkey into the EU.

There are two major reasons in my opinion: 1) Turkey has become a Muslim nation-state; and the EU is, whatever it is, NOT MUSLIM.  2) Turkey's military is outstanding; and it has militia organization, too.  The EU is fearful that Turkey could become a dominant military force in Europe, clearly dominant in the EU sphere.  NOT IF THE EU CAN PREVENT IT!  (Reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire)

NATO should be responsible for securing North Syria's Buffer Zone

The Commander of the NATO forces, in speaking on TV the other day seemed to suggest NATO as the agency that should oversee the buffer zone of  northern Syria, which the Turks are currently invading.

Indeed, Turkey is a member of NATO and seems appropriate to handle the influx of displaced persons that are to be relocated through a Turkish Presidential order and design.

There is simply plenty of room in the buffer area for more people and their property, as pointed out by several independent observers on the scene.  No need for the Kurds to leave the area they are currently living in but years of animosity voiced by Turkish leaders.

And be it noted, that Kurds live in Turkey without threat of extinction, despite the apparent social ostracism, if not extinction, being pursued by the Turkish government in northern Syria.  The Turks have no legitimate claim to the territory Trump is seemingly ceding to that country.  Besides,  the few American troops that were in northern Syria before President Trump's order to leave, were tiny in number but huge in beneficial effect towards order and stability in the region.   

On Rachel Maddow's new book: Bailout; my comment

Rachel Maddow, of MSNBC, just published a book on Russian oil interests under Putin.

I haven't read her book Bailout, but I've listened to discussions about it on the network.

My comment is based on my analysis of Putin's influence upon President Trump.  I detect that there's being formed a coterie of energy resource tyrants, such as Putin (to include the Venezuelan President that he's keeping within "the family"), the Saudis, the US under Trump, and even the North Korean President--all friends in the energy business (North Korea in coal) so as to at sometime in the future,  possibly, exert pressure to establish an energy-resource cartel, similar to OPEC but global in its effect, particularly if it is able to draw upon the US military forces for defensive posture.

When I was in Russia in 1989 giving input into the Russian Federation Constitution framers and designers, I was well aware that in the immediate future Russia would turn to oil as its principal resource for development and worldwide distribution, starting with, of course, to Germany.