through "a period of turbulent change", in Beijing’s words, and great structural adjustments, but usually when that happens, what matters in the long run is not how stable a system seems but rather how successfully political, economic and social institutions adjust to...
1/11
An article worth thinking about: “As changes to the world structure accelerate, China’s rule is in sharp contrast with the turmoil in the West,” says Beijing.
I agree, but I draw a different conclusion. The world is certainly currently
through "a period of turbulent change", in Beijing’s words, and great structural adjustments, but usually when that happens, what matters in the long run is not how stable a system seems but rather how successfully political, economic and social institutions adjust to...
the new conditions. In the past these adjustments have almost always been messy, chaotic, and disheartening to most, but ultimately they were necessary even if we were unable to judge them so at the time.
I would argue that the world today is undergoing both a reversal...
and rejection of the current model of globalization and an urgent need for most countries in the world, including China, to initiate a major rebalancing of the way income and wealth (and ultimately political power) is distributed, but there are few if any historical...
precedents in which this level of restructuring and rebalancing have been neat or orderly.
Beijing's response, which is to do whatever it takes to maintain stability, may look good in the short term, as this strategy always does, but if it prevents the necessary...
rebalancing (as it has for well over a decade), in the future the Chinese may judge their response much less favorably. We went through similarly turbulent periods in the 1920s and 1930s, and then again in the 1960s and 1970s, and in both cases it seemed that the older...
democracies of the West were failing the test, unlike the stability-obsessed autocracies. Mussolini in the 1920s and early 1930s, remember, was considered even by many prominent American and English politicians to be one of the world’s few great leaders, mainly because...
he managed to "stabilize" Italy, even as the older American and European democracies were in turmoil. Forty years later the USSR seemed an oasis of purpose and stability when once again Western Europe and the US seemed on the edge of collapse.
In both cases we were wrong. My point isn’t that Beijing's response is necessarily the wrong one, and ours necessarily the right one. It is only that when we are in the midst of a period of turbulent change, it isn’t always obvious who is adjusting to new conditions and...
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Let me take a stab at this after years of reporting on Marine One, HMX-1, Continuity of Government, etc. None of this is definitive, but it could help explain what folks are seeing:
1.) HMX-1, which flies the VH-3D and VH-60N 'White Top' helicopters used to move... 1/X
the President and VP around, those helos being called Marine One or Two when either is onboard, need to train. The urban landing zones, including WH and VP Residence, are not simple to get in and out of. So, crews need some currency training. They are not just tasked with... 2/X
moving POTUS and VP to get them around the region and to Andrews AFB for long-haul flights, they are essential to Continuity of Government operations. This means that if a threat were to emerge, they need to be ready to snatch POTUS and VP in minutes. This is partially... 3/X
why they have a full forward operating location at Naval Support Activity Anacostia, just 3 miles from the WH. As such, practice is important and considering the state of things, it is critical now more than in any recent memory. 4/X
2.) Considering what happened last week, including mobs of Trump supporters screaming in unison to hang the VP for doing what the constitution states, absolutely despicable in every way, security has been tightened just as it has been all over. Using the helicopters instead.. 5/X
1.) HMX-1, which flies the VH-3D and VH-60N 'White Top' helicopters used to move... 1/X
Very noisy helicopters flying around Vice President\u2019s residence \u2014 what is going on? pic.twitter.com/XPs1A3px7m
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) January 11, 2021
the President and VP around, those helos being called Marine One or Two when either is onboard, need to train. The urban landing zones, including WH and VP Residence, are not simple to get in and out of. So, crews need some currency training. They are not just tasked with... 2/X
moving POTUS and VP to get them around the region and to Andrews AFB for long-haul flights, they are essential to Continuity of Government operations. This means that if a threat were to emerge, they need to be ready to snatch POTUS and VP in minutes. This is partially... 3/X
why they have a full forward operating location at Naval Support Activity Anacostia, just 3 miles from the WH. As such, practice is important and considering the state of things, it is critical now more than in any recent memory. 4/X
2.) Considering what happened last week, including mobs of Trump supporters screaming in unison to hang the VP for doing what the constitution states, absolutely despicable in every way, security has been tightened just as it has been all over. Using the helicopters instead.. 5/X
WOW, Mike Gapes and Joan Ryan are non-Labour JLM conference attendees discussing disciplinary processes with Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner but not a privilege afforded to the people who pay the wages of the party machine. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut #LFI https://t.co/XZDKR5FmXC
So what should Peter Mandelson talk about at the recent Jewish Labour Movement conference – his worries that an independent process will hamper the party leader Keir Starmer?. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut #LFI
Mandelson “was there in the 1980s and understands where the power bases of the right are, and how it should be exercised”. Who needs independent processes or oversight when you are in the driving seat?. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut #LFI
Poale Zion trades as Jewish Labour Movement is a part of the Zionist Federation of the UK and organise within the World Zionist Organisation. You do NOT have to be Jewish or a member of the Labour Party to join. JLM contains CIA asset Ruth Smeeth. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut #BICOM
Ruth Smeeth, one of the 60 plus anti-Corbyn resignations from the shadow cabinet, formerly held a post with the lobby group, Trevor Chinn's Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM). #StarmerOut #BICOM #JLM https://t.co/H2a9vnsnRP
So what should Peter Mandelson talk about at the recent Jewish Labour Movement conference – his worries that an independent process will hamper the party leader Keir Starmer?. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut #LFI
Mandelson “was there in the 1980s and understands where the power bases of the right are, and how it should be exercised”. Who needs independent processes or oversight when you are in the driving seat?. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut #LFI
Poale Zion trades as Jewish Labour Movement is a part of the Zionist Federation of the UK and organise within the World Zionist Organisation. You do NOT have to be Jewish or a member of the Labour Party to join. JLM contains CIA asset Ruth Smeeth. #LabourLeaks #StarmerOut #BICOM
Ruth Smeeth, one of the 60 plus anti-Corbyn resignations from the shadow cabinet, formerly held a post with the lobby group, Trevor Chinn's Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM). #StarmerOut #BICOM #JLM https://t.co/H2a9vnsnRP