HALF-FULL REPORT 10/25/24
The Tide is Turning
Barbarians at the Gates
A Dutch judge ordered Bill Gates to face seven individuals in court who claim to have been injured by COVID-19 vaccines. The plaintiffs, labeled as “corona skeptics,” initially sued Gates, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and several members of the Dutch government’s COVID-19 Outbreak Management Team, along with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and the Dutch state. The lawsuit alleges that Gates and his foundation misled the public about the safety of the COVID-19 shots, despite knowing they were not safe and effective. One of the original plaintiffs has passed away, leaving the other six to continue the lawsuit in the District Court of Leeuwarden.
Dutch attorney Meike Terhorst found it “quite interesting” that the plaintiffs chose to file the lawsuit in Leeuwarden instead of The Hague, where COVID-19 cases against the government are typically filed. Terhorst believes the chances of success are slim, stating that most judges support the COVID-19 vaccination agenda and may find it difficult to believe the vaccines caused injuries. However, Dutch journalist Erica Krikke expressed a more optimistic view, noting that the court’s decision to proceed with the case against Gates indicates that no one is above the law, regardless of their wealth or influence.
During the September 18 hearing, plaintiffs, including a victim represented by her father, delivered emotional pleas to the court. The father expressed his desire to speak directly with Gates about his daughter’s condition after she became ill following the COVID-19 vaccine. The judge appeared to be deeply affected by the testimony.
The October 18 ruling also addressed the plaintiffs’ claims regarding Gates’ involvement in the World Economic Forum’s “Great Reset” project, which aims to reorganize societies globally. The ruling acknowledged the foundation’s affiliation with the WEF and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, which is an international partnership focused on vaccinations.
Gates once faced criticism as the “most evil man in the world,” while from accusers allegedly seeking grant money from him. In response, Gates and his wife founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the aim of seeking “redemption and restoration of the world” by eliminating suffering, injustice, and disease, as well as preventing climate change, starvation, and promoting universal harmony.
Gates is likely to survive the lawsuit, but he is facing larger problems. Elon Musk commented as to why so many billionaires support Kamala during his interview with Tucker Carlson:
We KNOW what Epstein was up to on that island, and being the master salesman that he was, Epstein might also have been selling perceived legacies, absolution, and atonement to billionaires, politicians, academics, media stars, and financiers. It’s starting to sound like Epstein was offering the very “redemption and restoration of the world” by eliminating suffering, injustice, and disease, as well as preventing climate change, starvation, and promoting universal harmony that the Gates Foundation claims to support.
Billionaires likely have outsized egos, and Epstein might have been able to sell that shtick to entrap quite a few people. He could then keep them trapped via association with pedophilia.
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Falling Apart
President Trump claimed at a Nevada rally that Vice President Kamala Harris is falling apart in the final weeks of the presidential campaign, suggesting that Democrats would have been more competitive without her as the nominee. Trump asserted his lead in key battleground states and expressed concern that revealing his campaign’s strong position might discourage voter turnout. He addressed various topics, including the economy, taxes, energy, the environment, immigration, tariffs, China, and Russia, and vowed to usher in a new golden age for the country when he returns to the White House.
A new golden age? Todd Morgan, chairman of Bel Air Investment Advisors, which oversees $11.5 billion for high-net-worth clients, compared the current investment climate to the Roaring ’20s, characterized by a robust economy and societal transformations following a pandemic. He is proposing that a GOP sweep in the upcoming elections will trigger a surge in investor confidence, or “animal spirits,” leading to a broad market rally. Conversely, if Kamala Harris is elected alongside a Democratic-controlled White House and Congress, the likelihood of tax increases may result in a market selloff before the end of the year.
The current Polymarket odds, at the time of this writing, indicate a higher likelihood of a Republican executive branch win, and a Republican Senate majority. However, the outcome for the House remains uncertain. The odds of a Republican sweep continue improving, but have not yet crossed the line as a sure thing.
Vote as if your life depends on it.
Trump trolled Kamala last Friday by working a shift at a McDonald’s. Rumor has it that he doubled the fry order size and added extra McNuggets to the kid’s meals. As for Kamala, she was humiliated by the enormously positive response and the revelation that the “childhood friend” who allegedly worked with her at McDonald’s was one of her paid campaign consultants.
To stop the avalanche of mockery, Kamala sought assistance from her pals at the CDC. Yup, the same agency that claimed Ivermectin was ineffective and banned hydroxychloroquine citing fictitious data during the 2020 election emergency.
The following day, the CDC claims an elderly man passed away in Colorado after having eaten at a McDonald’s restaurant that week. As this is another election emergency, the CDC sprung into action and issued press releases via the big public relations houses.
Trump contaminated the Big Macs, dontchaknow. When McDonald’s responded by pulling Big Macs, the CDC adjusted tack to claim that diced onions are the problem, those onions used on the Quarter Pounder hamburger.
When pushed for scientific evidence, the CDC has only been able to point to random deaths after eating at a McDonald’s within a week or so. As with Covid-19, no pathology tests are required during election season, and the accusation of E. coli bacteria in the onions is enough to cause a moral panic. At press time, McDonald’s is defusing the situation by putting one of its onion suppliers on notice, while the CDC is claiming 75 people across the USA have been to a McDonald’s in the past week and concurrently have intestinal issues. The media releases lack actual diagnostic laboratory data. The drama will likely fade away by the election, and RFK2 is likely to eject the politicians from the CDC soon enough.
A McDonald’s in Pennsylvania is being forced to hire private security after Trump’s shift in its kitchen because Antifa thugs are attacking employees, vandalizing cars, and blocking customer access. This time around, Antifa’s community organizing is not helping the Democrats.
Trump might be the first Republican presidential candidate to win a majority of black votes since Calvin Coolidge. Trump has been shot, fined unreasonably in court, forced to wear an ankle monitor, harassed, has two baby mamas, and worked at a McDonald’s. Black voters can relate.
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Naval Supremacy
China is hinting that it will have the muscle to forcibly retake Taiwan by 2026, and is currently conducting extensive live-fire exercises in the waters surrounding Taiwan.
A flotilla of frigates, destroyers, an aircraft carrier, submarines, and Marine landing craft participated.
Chinese bombers and fighter bombers aggressively probed Taiwanese airspace all week, causing Taiwan’s air defense fighters to be scrambled numerous times.
The situation is clear. If conflict comes, it will come at sea, and the good guys have work to do.
To The Point has commented on problems with the U.S. Navy’s large vessel dry dock facilities three times so far in 2024. The Navy took action this week.
In the words of Tuesday’s Department of Defense press release:
Over the weekend, the U.S. Navy took decisive action at the Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center in Yokosuka by relieving the commanding and executive officers of their duties. Citing a loss of confidence in their leadership abilities, the Navy replaced Capt. Zaldy Valenzuela and Cmdr. Art Palalay. Stepping into the leadership roles are Capt. Dan Lannamann, previously of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, and Cmdr. Timothy Emge, the current operations officer, who will serve as interim executive officer. The Navy emphasized the importance of trust and high standards for those in command, underscoring the responsibilities they carry towards their sailors and the broader naval mission. This move reflects the Navy’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of its leadership ranks.
In essence, the Navy is expressing concern over its ability to repair warships. This problem is compounded by unexpected major maintenance needed by oilers, an aircraft carrier, a Marine amphibious warfare ship, and several destroyers. Many destroyers are facing unexpected and critical issues with their propulsion systems, specifically with propeller shaft and reduction gears cracks. Repairs deep in the hull are expensive, take a long time, and tie up the dry docks.
Here is a Link to a global tracker for major warships, foreign and domestic. Select a ship from the dropdown lists, and the interactive map will show its approximate location. It’s pretty clear from the map that the United States cannot continue to tie up significant resources supporting Israel as conditions in Taiwan heat up. There are not enough ships in the fleet.
In response to the shortage, the Department of Defense is reactivating former airfields in the Pacific, including the North Field at Tinian.
The Tinian airbase, historically known for its role in the World War II atomic bombings, is undergoing the most significant restoration of possibly ten reactivated bases. This project, which has seen the clearing of vast tracts of land and the refurbishment of runways, represents a substantial investment by the Pentagon, with expenditures nearing $500 million. Other bases being reactivated are at Palau and Espirito de Santos in the New Hebrides Archipelago.
In response to the potential deployment of advanced hypersonic weapons, the Navy is actively developing countermeasures, including the integration of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors on naval vessels and possibly at the reactivated bases, as well as at Guam. The missile, as traditionally used by the U.S. Army, is being adapted for maritime use to counteract the threat posed by highly agile missiles. The demand for these interceptors is surging, reflecting a global need for missile defense capabilities. Collaborative efforts with Japan and Korea are planned to make use of their production technology for critical parts such as targeting seeker sensors.
In other words, the once mighty California and Washington State aerospace industry is too woke to meet national defense demands. At least we still have Texas, and more importantly, Texans.
The Navy is also adopting cost-effective missiles similar to those utilized by Israel on its vessels. These missiles, known for their affordability and efficacy, could provide a significant upgrade in air defense technology. The current challenge faced by the Navy is the high expense of missiles, which becomes particularly acute with the rise of inexpensive drones capable of inflicting substantial damage on ships. Although these airborne drones may not sink a destroyer, they can disrupt vital systems, posing a significant threat, especially in large numbers.
Seaborne drones are another matter and include very long-range autonomous torpedoes and fast-moving small surface craft. The Russian Black Sea Fleet lost a lot of tonnage to both seaborne drones and long-range anti-ship missiles.
The Navy is responding to the drone threat with drone boats of its own, as shown in the picture. These drones can serve as radar pickets to alert the fleet or serve as attack vessels, medical evacuation craft, and torpedo launchers. The last time we were talking about PT boats was when another Kennedy was in the news. Just like the previous PT boats, these new robot drones can be hidden in reefs and lagoons all over the Pacific, move with stealth, and pack a hard punch.
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Ukraine
The United States will loan 20 billion dollars to Ukraine as part of a 70 billion dollar sum agreed upon by the Group of Seven (G7) nations this week. The unique aspect of this loan is that it won’t be the American people paying it back through taxes. Instead, the repayment will come from Russian assets that have been seized. These assets were taken as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and they’ve been held in banks across Europe and America due to sanctions against Russia.
However, for the U.S. to send the money to Ukraine, it still needs approval from Congress. This is a standard procedure for any significant financial aid given by the U.S. to another country. In essence, this plan is a strategic way to support Ukraine.
The White House issued a press release on the matter:
This summer, I led an effort to bring the G7 together to commit $50 billion in Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loans to Ukraine, backed by the profits of immobilized Russian sovereign assets. After Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the G7 took bold action to immobilize Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions, and committed that these assets will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine—paving the way for Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loans.
As part of the G7 package, the United States is announcing today that we will provide $20 billion in loans to Ukraine that will be paid back by the interest earned from immobilized Russian sovereign assets. In other words, Ukraine can receive the assistance it needs now, without burdening taxpayers. These loans will support the people of Ukraine as they defend and rebuild their country. And our efforts clarify it: tyrants will be responsible for the damages they cause.
Make no mistake: Russia will not prevail in this conflict. The people of Ukraine will prevail. This is another reminder to Vladimir Putin that the world has rallied behind Ukraine—and the United States and our G7 partners will continue to stand with them every step of the way.
What is unclear is who will make those interest payments on the funds, and if it is Ukraine, what will happen should they default.
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And Then, Russia
The situation in Ukraine has taken a complex turn with the reported deployment of North Korean troops to the Kursk region of Russia. This could signify a new phase in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Ukrainian military intelligence service, the HUR, has indicated that the presence of these troops was noted as of October 23, 2024. The report suggests that nearly 12,000 North Korean soldiers, including 500 officers and three generals, have been dispatched to Russia, under the supervision of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunu-bek Yevkurov. They are expected to undergo a period of adjustment before any potential deployment.
South Korea’s intelligence services have corroborated the presence of approximately 3,000 North Korean troops in Russia. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed these reports of North Koreans in Russia as unfounded, with a spokesperson labeling them as “fake news.” However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not outright denied these claims. Instead, he has redirected the narrative towards the West’s role in escalating the conflict and asserted the sovereignty of Russia and North Korea’s defense cooperation.
The presence of a third country’s military forces in the war, a first in this conflict, could set a precedent that might encourage other nations to become more directly involved. We will see.
Bruce Bennett, a researcher with the RAND Corporation, has suggested that North Korea could use the conflict in Ukraine as a learning ground, much like the Spanish Civil War was used to test new military strategies and equipment before World War II. He posits that North Korea may be observing the use of drones, artillery, and armored vehicles in Ukraine to enhance North Korean military capabilities. Furthermore, there is speculation that North Korean military leaders are taking note of the impact of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilian morale, potentially as a strategy to emulate in any future conflicts with South Korea.
The presence of three generals is interesting, suggesting a general officer in charge on a rotating shift basis. Five hundred officers, or 4% of the force does not seem sufficient if the deployed force is really 12,000. It seems to better match the deployment of 3,000 troops.
Regardless of the number, Ukraine should offer substantial rewards to defecting North Koreans. There are no open-source reports of supporting artillery units, antiaircraft, or armor capabilities deployed with the North Koreans. At least, not yet.
Might the North Korean Troops be tasked to shoot defecting, insufficiently motivated, and deserting Russians? The distasteful mission aligns with the North Korean deployment of riflemen. Shooting the unmotivated Russian conscript in the back is a well-established Russian practice, which Russians might be resisting. If so, then Russian officers are either unwilling or incapable of maintaining discipline.
Mass desertion has happened before:
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The BRICS had a Meeting
While this is a wrap, Russia and China continued to unleash narrative warfare with their BRICS summit by announcing first stage acceptance of thirteen new countries into the BRICS financial bloc. Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam. Along with the original cadre of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the bloc represents a lot of people.
Turkey has the largest army in NATO outside the USA, and there was much hope that Vietnam’s large military would side with the West in a Pacific war. Losing either country is inexcusable.
The BRICS are reminiscent of that scene, The Meeting of the Families, in the Francis Ford Coppola movie, The Godfather.
There is certainly more to come.
Mike Ryan is a Chemical Engineering consultant to heavy industry.