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1
How the Army Corps of Engineers plans to reopen the Port of Baltimore
By
Jamie McIntyre
March 28, 2024 7:06 am
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RACE TO REOPEN, JOB ONE: CLEAR THE CHANNEL: The Port of Baltimore is one of the busiest on the East Coast, with between $100 million and $200 million in cargo moving through the port every day. There are 10 cargo ships trapped by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Wednesday and 8,000 dock and other workers idled representing about $2 million in wages. So the race is on to reopen the port to minimize disruption to global supply lines.

“No matter how quickly the channels can be reopened, we know that it can’t happen overnight. And so, we’re going to have to manage the impacts in the meantime,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at a White House briefing. “It’s America’s largest vehicle-handling port, which is important not only for car imports and exports but also for farm equipment.”

The Coast Guard is the lead agency, but the literal heavy lifting falls to the Army Corps of Engineers. “We’re going to go about this in three steps. The first is to get the steel truss out of a 700-foot wide by 50-foot deep channel,” Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, commander and chief of engineers for the corps, told CNN. “Then we’re going to look at the bottom and see what concrete members are down below. When these ships come into Baltimore harbor, there’s anywhere between a foot and a foot and a half of clearance from the bottom. So any piece of concrete, any piece of steel on the bottom is just as much a hazard.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/daily-on-defense/2942493/how-the-army-corps-of-engineers-plans-to-reopen-the-port-of-baltimore/
2
Gimme a break!   His love isn't limited to just New York City. 

That said, he completely out-maneuvered Tunnell to Towers Foundation on this.

Oh shut up.
3
Washington’s global system of alliances is facing extremely tough internal and external problems.   

"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world."

FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1796
 
Washington's admonition to Americans to avoid foreign entanglements stemmed from his own personal experience. He knew first hand how costly wars could be and wanted the young nation to maintain a goal of neutrality with all foreign governments as much as possible.  Washington continued his commentary by noting: "so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronising infidelity to existing engagements" - Washington still intended for the United States to honor all existing international treaties.

Farewell Address | Monday, September 19, 1796

We were warned!
4

Trump calling the widow and paying off her mortgage was decent, I'll give him credit for that.  I think he does love New York City, after all is said and done.


Gimme a break!   His love isn't limited to just New York City. 

That said, he completely out-maneuvered Tunnell to Towers Foundation on this.
5
Obama and Clinton look to boost Biden without overshadowing him
By
Naomi Lim
March 28, 2024 6:07 am
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President Joe Biden is hoping the star power of his Democratic predecessors, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, will shine a light on his campaign against another former president, Donald Trump, during a high-profile New York City fundraiser.

But although his last State of the Union before November’s general election addressed concerns about his age, his campaign is under pressure to make sure Biden is not overshadowed, particularly by his younger, more popular former boss.

The Biden campaign dismisses the idea that the president has an enthusiasm problem, citing expectations Thursday night’s fundraiser could raise more than $25 million, with 5,000-plus attendees anticipated to be at Radio City Hall.

“Democrats are unified and energized behind President Biden’s reelection campaign, and that will be on full display this Thursday in New York City,” Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz told the Washington Examiner. “Donald Trump has no juice heading into the general: Huge chunks of Republican primary voters have made clear they have no interest in voting for him this November, Republican leaders like his own vice president are openly opposing him, and even if Trump wanted to reach them (he does not!), he has no cash or energy to do so.”

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2940819/obama-and-clinton-look-to-boost-biden-without-overshadowing-him/
6
Biden expected to rake in $25 million with star-studded fundraiser featuring Obama and Clinton
By
Naomi Lim
March 28, 2024 8:54 am
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President Joe Biden‘s reelection campaign is expected to end the day with another $25 million in its coffers after an all-star fundraiser featuring former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

More than 5,000 people will attend the Thursday event, hosted by Mindy Kaling at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, for performances by Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and Lea Michele, in addition to an armchair conversation with the three presidents, moderated by Stephen Colbert. There will also be separate programming online for supporters who cannot be there in person.

“This historic raise is a show of strong enthusiasm for President Biden and Vice President Harris and a testament to the unprecedented fundraising machine we’ve built,” Biden campaign co-chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg told reporters Thursday. “Unlike our opponent, every dollar we’re raising is going to reach the voters who will decide this election — communicating the president’s historic record, his vision for the future, and laying plain the stakes of this election.”

“The numbers don’t lie: Today’s event is a massive show of force and a true reflection of the momentum to reelect the Biden-Harris ticket,” said Katzenberg, one of the organizers, along with Anna Wintour.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/2942499/biden-25-million-fundraiser-obama-clinton/
7
Economy grew 3.4% in fourth quarter, remaining strong despite higher interest rates
By
Zachary Halaschak
March 28, 2024 8:34 am
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Gross domestic product growth in the fourth quarter was revised up to an 3.4% seasonally adjusted annual rate, showing the economy ended 2023 on a stronger footing than previously realized.

The new data, adjusted for inflation, were published Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in its report for gross domestic product for the fourth quarter and for all of last year. The data showed the economy expanded 2.5% for all of 2023.

This was the third and final revision for both the fourth quarter and all of last year, meaning that these represent the final GDP figures.

Data for the fourth quarter were revised up from the previous estimate while the overall GDP reading for last year was remained the same.

Thursday’s final report shows that the economy fared much better in 2023 than was expected. Notably, a year ago, Fed officials were projecting that GDP growth would only grow by 0.5% in 2023.

President Joe Biden has touted the country’s GDP growth as proof that his “Bidenomics” agenda is working — despite his economic approval rating being down and voters consistently expressing concerns about the state of the economy.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/finance-and-economy/2942061/economy-grew-3-4-in-fourth-quarter-remaining-strong-despite-higher-interest-rates/
8
Keith B. Payne, “A Time for Choosing”: Urgent Action or Continuing Folly, No. 580, March 26, 2024
 
“A Time for Choosing”:  Urgent Action or Continuing Folly
 
Dr. Keith B. Payne is a co-founder of the National Institute for Public Policy, professor emeritus at the Graduate School of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and former Senior Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Introduction

Washington’s global system of alliances is facing extremely tough internal and external problems.  These problems are neither fleeting nor prosaic; they are now structural and will require significant efforts to ameliorate.  That harsh reality would matter little if alliances were unimportant to Western security.  But they are the West’s key advantage over an aggressive, authoritarian bloc, including a Sino-Russian entente, North Korea and Iran, that seeks to overturn the liberal world order created and sustained by U.S. and allied power.  To maintain that advantage, Washington must recognize and respond to those threats, while resisting the usual anti-defense spending/anti-military themes of the “progressive” Left and the seeming neo-isolationism of some on the political Right.

U.S. defense budgets in decline when adjusted for inflation,[1] and a trend within parts of the Republican Party to oppose continuing military aid to Ukraine, are not lost on allies who fear for their security and are ultimately dependent on a seemingly reticent United States for their security. As threat conditions become increasingly severe and obvious, some allies, particularly those who are on the frontlines vis-à-vis Russia, China, and North Korea, understandably are increasingly alarmed.

Evidence of this alarm includes open allied discussions about acquiring independent nuclear capabilities—with the corresponding potential for a cascade of nuclear proliferation.  Perhaps most surprising are open German and Japanese discussions of independent nuclear deterrence capabilities.[2]  In Japan, the subject is tied directly to the continuing credibility of the U.S. extended nuclear deterrent and has moved from being politically taboo to an open public discussion.[3]  In February 2023, a Japanese defense study chaired by former military chief of staff Ryoichi Oriki reportedly suggested that “Japan ease its three nonnuclear principles that prohibit possessing, producing or allowing entry into Japan of nuclear weapons.”[4]

https://nipp.org/information_series/keith-b-payne-a-time-for-choosing-urgent-action-or-continuing-folly-no-580-march-26-2024/
9
Texas / Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic moving out of Texas
« Last post by Elderberry on Today at 01:16:53 pm »
KVUE by Britny Eubank 4/26/2024

Nelson recently announced he will tour with Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and others this summer. But the tour won't make a Texas stop, even on July 4.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Willie Nelson is moving his annual "4th of July Picnic" out of his home state of Texas.

Last month, Nelson announced the return of the Outlaw Music Festival Tour, featuring himself and his family along with Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, John Mellencamp and more, depending on the tour date.

The dates released in February didn't include any stops in the Lone Star State, but the July 4 slot was open, leaving plans for Nelson's annual Independence Day event unclear.

Now we know Nelson still has no plans to bring the tour to Texas and he's moving his party to the East Coast.

More: https://www.kvue.com/article/entertainment/events/willie-nelson-4th-of-july-picnic-new-jersey/269-714642bd-3f6a-4637-9677-d4ffeb3fdfb8
10
Army artillery needs more range, mobility and autonomy, study finds
By Jen Judson
 Mar 27, 02:34 PM
 

The Army canceled its Extended Range Cannon Artillery, or ERCA, in favor of munitions with improved range. Its greater artillery strategy will see more mobile and autonomous systems, the Army believes. (Photo by Edward Lopez/U.S. Army)

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Army’s recently completed conventional fires study determined the service should focus on more autonomous artillery systems with greater range and improved mobility, the Army Futures Command chief said Wednesday.

Speaking at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Global Symposium here, Gen. James Rainey said the Army will achieve these improvements by incorporating robotics into systems, improving artillery rounds and pursuing readily available mobile howitzer options.


The service began working last year on a conventional fires study intended to lead to a new strategy. Rainey said at the time the review would consider the existing capability and capacity and future Army needs. It was also going to assess new technology to enhance conventional fires on the battlefield, such as advances in propellant that make it possible for midrange cannons to shoot as far as longer-range systems.

The study has already influenced one program. The Army, after also conducting a prototyping effort for an Extended Range Cannon Artillery system, concluded the platform was not the right approach.

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/global-force-symposium/2024/03/27/army-artillery-needs-more-range-mobility-and-autonomy-study-finds/
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