Merrick Garland has had a distinguished career. First as the lead investigator in securing the conviction of the Oklahoma City bomber 25 years ago. Followed by 20 yeas as a federal appellate judge.

Now he is Attorney General. Only a few months. Time waits for no man, however. As Biden’s plate is full, so is Garland’s.

He has to move his ass. He is working too slowly. His decision making is that of a judge. Deliberate and analytical. Yes or no must be answered with clarity when a judge. A prosecutor has a more leeway.

Three things are not getting the attention they deserve. Some the Justice Department not even involved in, though they should be. The three are the new Texas voting law, the new Texas abortion law, and the January 6 investigation.

The January 6 investigation needs the power of the FBI in directing the investigation, issuing subpoenas, etc. Not to the say the House will not do a good job. However the House can be played with politically during the course of its investigation. The FBI not.

Subpoenas would have already been issued. Doors knocked on at 5 in the morning with court orders for records, etc.

Speed is demanded in the three matters specified. Perhaps in others also.

I had a concern when Biden nominated Garland to be Attorney Justice. I shared it in my blog titled Morning Stew #48 published May 13, 2021. The comment short. I repeat it in its entirety. My concern today similar as back then.

“Merrick Garland was confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee this past week for the position of Attorney General. The Senate will confirm him, if it has not already done so.

Garland has been touted as ‘best’ for the job for two reasons.

First, he headed the Oklahoma investigation 25 years ago. Second, he has been a respected federal judge for more tan 20 years.

Both experiences qualifying on their faces. However, I question such.

Twenty five years is a long time ago. No one can tell whether he is as good investigating wise today as he was then. A good judge does not necessarily make a good prosecutor. Especially after 20 years as a judge. The mind changes. In some instances, the drive also.

I hope Garland does well and I wish him well. However, he causes me concern.”

When I began reading Texas Governor Abbott’s comments re the new abortion law he signed yesterday, his “rape” comments hit me hard. Right between the eyes.

How was he to get around the rape issue?

The thought was immediately followed with what about “incest.’ OK to permit a rape impregnation to be dealt with, but what of the incest situation for example where a father impregnates his daughter?

I thought further the child probably would not mention the act(s) to the mother. She would be on the way to developing a belly before the pregnancy was discovered. Too late to meet the 6 week requirement.

As I read further, I saw Abbott and I were not on the same page.

Abbott stated at the signing that the new law did not force victims of rape to give birth and he vowed to “eliminate all rapists.”

Sounded good. As far as it went. Ranked of sheer stupidity and non understanding of the problem with the words that followed: Rape not a problem because the law “provides at least six weeks for a person to get an abortion…..There are services available to support victims of rape in the state to make sure that anybody who’s victimized will get the support they need.”

Texas is in deep trouble with Abbott and his type leadership.

Children increasingly are becoming infected with coronavirus. Failure to be vaccinated the primary cause.

Unvaccinated teens are being hospitalized at a rate 210 times higher than vaccinated ones.

The report the result of a 14 state study running from 7/20-8/31.

I am still tired. Waiting for blood results that will be available tomorrow afternoon.

Enjoy your day!

Age does have its problems. The older I get, the better I live. I watch myself meticulously. Never the less, I get sick.

My pancreas acting up again. The morning spent seeing doctor and tests. Another later this afternoon.

Ergo, no blog today. Nor will there be a blog talk radio show tonight.

I began researching today’s blog at 6 this morning. Assumed I would run to the doctor and return to finish. Not the case. I am shot.

Dr. Louis says not serious. Everyone being cautious.

Enjoy your day! I plan on spending the rest of mine in bed watching TV

Women have been second class citizens in the United States from time immemorial. White women included. Color has nothing to do with it.

Female progress has been slow. Even today, professionally, politically, socially, and in every objective way. Such observation is not a matter of opinion. Rather, it is based on facts of systemic sexism historically and currently.

Examples of past historical and current sexism are many. Many colleges did not permit admission to women till the mid 1900’s or later. Harvard Law School did not accept women till 1950. Pregnant women could be discriminated against in the work place till the 1970’s. The GI Bill of Rights discriminated against women. The Constitution and 1965 Civil Rights Act did not provide women with equal rights.

A second class citizen is generally defined as “a person belonging to a social or political group whose rights and opportunities are inferior to those of the dominant group in a society.”

Women fit the definition perfectly. Women are paid less. They make up a tiny fraction of executives, CEOs, board members or leaders of companies. Certain countries have had one or more Presidents or Prime Ministers. U.S. still at the zero mark. Women are not given the same opportunities in the technology fields.

Information provided in previous paragraphs are based on “objective facts.”

Women have been exploited sexually in order to get ahead. They have been compelled to do things in order to gain promotions or to keep their jobs.

Now comes Texas.

Recall Giant. The Texas movie starring Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor. A perfect example of the subservient position of Texan women.

Giant covered several decades. A tune that popped up at various parts of the movie began with “The eyes of Texas are up you…..” A slightly different version today would be “The eyes of America are upon you…..”

Though women have been subservient to some degree way back to Biblical times, Donald Trump gave it an implied consent with his three nominations to the Supreme Court.

Regardless of the historical time, men have a tendency to come after women like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Why? Hard to understand, How great must be their fear of the female sex. The men cowards all.

Women and families are directly affected by the Texas law. It pits citizen against citizen by providing enforcement only by private citizens.

Now businesses will be formed. Vigilante types. Bounty hunters. At $10,000 a crack, why not. Business and non-business persons will become “peeping toms.” The profit incentive a great one.

Bounty hunters will in effect be the creation of an extra-judicial enforcement arm doing the dirty work the Texas GOP knows would otherwise be unconstitutional.

Can you imagine? The new law “deputizes” citizens against women. Shocking on its face!

Present day Republicans are on a large scale political mission: To turn Americans against each other, to provoke political violence and to encourage mob rule, provided it’s their mob.

The new law an act the Taliban would approve. Enforcement will smack of the Maoist Cultural Revolution which turned China’s citizens against each other.

Understand what the Texas law says: Any member of the public has “legal standing” to control a woman’s body. Amazing! I cannot think of any law that permits a woman to control a man’s body. Obviously the new law not a what’s good for the goose is good for the gander situation.

Everything proceeding while the Supreme Court “stands mute.”

There is a further implication. The new law will spread to other Republican controlled states. Roe v. Wade is in trouble.

An interesting observation. Who is the initial cause of the problem giving rise to the need for abortion laws. Men! Without them, there can be no conception. Men are at the root of unwanted pregnancies. Men do the dirty deed and women pay for it.

The Supreme Court has abandoned 50 percent of the electorate be declaring women second class citizens when it comes to the most personal of rights: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

White men will pay. Women will “come marching home”at the ballot box next year. So I assume. I cannot see how they could do otherwise.

Ladies of Texas, the eyes of America are on you.

There is another way women can push their men to somehow change the law sooner. Cut them off off from sex. Let them know it is your way or the highway!

Enjoy your day!

So many words suited to describing Texas. All negative. Deplorable, selfish, hateful, non-caring. More, however more not required. The actions of the majority of Texans speak for themselves.

Two recent laws bear evidence: Those dealing with voting and anti-abortion. Type of laws that divide a state, a people, and eventually a nation. At a time we cannot handle any further division.

From my perspective, Texas is a state evenly divide. Fifty / fifty. Actually not. A few more Republicans than Democrats. However close enough to be considered evenly divided.

Such being the case, I have come to the conclusion that Texas is representative of today’s America.

Rotten to the core.

Another conclusion arrived at is the Republican faction is becoming like the Taliban. They have no redeeming quality.

Syracuse won last night! Beat Ohio decisively 29-9. A start. Hopefully the team can keep it going.

Enjoy your day!

A Big Pine story. A miniature pet goat named Billy Bob Thornton. Knee high. Four years old.

A homeless drunk stole Billy Bob. His owner notified the Sheriff’s Department. A Deputy found Billy Bob and the thief asleep on the grass next to a bicycle.

Billy Bob’s owner opted not to have the drunk arrested. She knew him. He knew her and Billy Joe. He had done odd jobs for her the past 10 years.

One problem. Billy Bob was drunk when he was returned home: “His eyes were so dilated…..They didn’t look normal at all.” Billy Bob was a “little tipsy.”

The drunk had fed Billy Bob beer during their time together.

Political insanity continues to prevail in Florida. Especially with friends of Governor DeSantis and drugs to treat coronavirus.

Neil Combee is a Polk County Commissioner. It appears a friend of Governor DeSantis. He sent a letter to DeSantis recommending that Ivermectin be made widely available. Ivermectin the dewormer given to horses and cows. In recent weeks, it has become widely known as a drug to fight COVID infections in humans.

Amazing! The people on the the Ivermectin kick are generally those who refuse to be vaccinated.

The Commissioner wrote, “We’re hearing from many of our citizens that larger hospital chains and some pharmacies are refusing to prescribe…..When a citizen is facing a potentially life-threatening case of COVID-19, he or she should receive the right to try potentially life saving” ivermectin.

A hocus pocus situation. Involves Governor DeSantis. I wrote yesterday about Florida fudging/manipulating death statistics to make Florida’s number of deaths appear significantly lower than they were.

This morning’s Citizens’ Voice referred to Florida’s recording of COVID deaths by the use of the new collection procedure. The procedure withholds data of death figures until death certificates are processed weeks later – the result is a downward slope re deaths reported.

An inquiry on Redditt this morning.  A Florida resident wrote. He has lived in Florida 26 years, but never made it to Key West. He is planning a soon to occur Key West trip.

His question: “But I don’t want to do and see the usual stuff. I want to see the weird and macab! Spooky sightseeing and curio shops, anyone got recommendations?”

My friend, I have been a Key Wester for close to 30 years. Everything is “odd.” The island is small. Only 1.5 x 4.0 miles. Come down and let your feet discover what you seek. Every block can be a surprise!

Hurricane Larry. Already a Category 3. However still way out in the Atlantic. Doubt it will even come close to the Keys. For that matter, anywhere near the U.S. coast line. It has been turning northwest.

Hurricane season nowhere close to being over. November 30 the date. And even then, we have had a storm or two into early December.

Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh did not impress me when he was nominated by Trump, during his time before the Senate Committee, and since he has been on the bench. Not a straight shooter. Throws an oddball comment into many decisions. Not the way appellate judging is done.

I feel the same about Trump’s 2 other nominees Gorsuch and Barrett. Their problem is they are too far to the right. Their decisions not in the best interests of the needy and lower economic class.

My thoughts concern Kavanaugh today.

He brings what I would describe as the traits of a political hack to the bench. He may rule one way today. Yet keep the door open to rule the opposite down the road if it helps the impression he wants the public to have of him.

Kavanaugh was one of the 5 deciding Justices in the recent Texas abortion case. Decided last week. Decision came down just before midnight. The decision banning abortions once the fetus’ heart beat could be heard. Generally around 6 weeks. Most women do not even know they are pregnant the first 6 weeks.

Kavanaugh by his vote announced to the world he was anti abortion. Something we already knew.

Some believe Kavanaugh will in the near future be faced with the specific issue as to whether Roe v. Wade itself should be reversed. He wants to be in the position at that time to “reaffirm” Roe.

Such would place him on both sides of the fence. Re the Texas decision, anti abortion. Upholding Rose, pro abortion.

The indication suggests he wants to be in good standing with those on each side of the issue.

The way of a politician, not a judge.

I find Kavanaugh’s motivation process amusing. He is a Supreme Court Justice for life. Never has to run for the seat. He is only 56 years old. His job good for another 30-40 years.

Why is he concerned about keeping both sides happy?

I can remember when everyone smoked. Cigarettes, not pot.

Wherever you were, the smoke was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Then we became aware smoking was not healthy. Most eventually stopped.

Lets take a step back in time. World War II. Smoking still considered OK. I can recall advertisements saying 3 out of 4 doctors smoke Camels. Doctors smoked in their offices while treating you. Medical staff and patients were permitted to smoke in the hospital and their rooms.

During World War II, our fighting men smoked. The government even supplied them with free cigarettes. Pilots smoked while in battle.

Hard to believe!

I came across an interesting story the other day involving smoking and World War II.

A young man wanted to enlist. His goal to be a flyer.

He could not pass the physical. Low blood pressure. He complained to the doctor examining him. He wanted to fight for his country. Everyone wanted to back then.

The doctor told him to go outside and smoke a cigarette. Return when he was done.

He came back. The doctor took his blood pressure again. It had gone up sufficient for him to pass the physical.

The young man became an Air Force officer and a B-17 navigator flying combat missions over Germany.

Syracuse’s football season opens tonight. Syracuse playing Ohio. Both teams appear to be of similar quality. Either team is favored by 7 points.

Hope Syracuse has a winning season. The last few have been disastrous. If my recollection is correct, Syracuse won only 1 game last year.

I recall my Syracuse years in the late 1950’s. Glorious football seasons! Ernie Davis time. For many years thereafter, Syracuse was one of the top teams in the country. Then it all died! For many years now!

The game begins at 7.

Enjoy your day!

Florida’s Governor DeSantis is a hands on politician. Makes me assume nothing of consequence occurs without his consent.

This past week someone told me COVID numbers were getting better in Florida. First I heard of it. Finally got to researching the claim yesterday. The numbers were better. However, only because they were fudged. Manipulated to make Florida look better. Looking better was needed. Florida had become number one in adverse coronavirus data.

The CDC reported Florida’s latest coronavirus surge is the deadliest yet. However, Florida’s death reports reflect a significant decline.

Something stunk in Denmark!

Turns out Florida changed how it reported its COVID data to the CDC, creating an “artificial decline” in recent deaths. A new method which made Florida and its Governor look good.

Instead of reporting deaths immediately, time was taken for a death to be evaluated as such and a death certificate to be processed. In other words, the system for tallying deaths was slowed down.

Such gave the appearance of a “pandemic decline.”

Monday the CDC came out with the proper death data for the previous week. Two hundred sixty two daily deaths. Florida’s report per its “new system” was 46 deaths per day.

Who needs a leader who lies about important things to make himself look better? Especially one who is seriously being considered Presidential timber for the 2024 election.

Sacramento County, California, is another place where the COVID numbers are on the rise. No tampering involved. Though bad, honest.

School reopenings part of the problem.

Latest reports indicate 20 percent of new cases involve children. Also, African Americans are dying in higher numbers. Hospitals at near capacity.

Sacramento County is averaging 500 new cases per day and 5 new deaths per day.

To the San Francisco Bay area. Ivermectin popular! The horse and cow dewormer is “flying” off the shelves in stock and feed stores. Many perceive ivermectin a “miracle drug.” Especially those who fear and refuse to be vaccinated. Yet when inflected, run to purchase the anti-parasite drug.

The American Medical Association is “begging” people to stop taking the drug. The Association keeps reminding those taking it that they are not of the animal kingdom: “You are not a horse!”

Housing is a significant Key West problem. Especially reasonable rentals.

Santa Clara condominiums are located on Northside Drive behind the Sears Shopping Center.

The City believes the condominiums are “unfit for human habitation.” A hearing has been scheduled for September 13 to review the matter. It has been called via a Petition to declare the building an unsafe dwelling not fit for human habitation.

Recent inspection of Santa Clara has discovered exposed steel, major concrete cracks in walls and stair walls, unevenly distributed loads in floors and ceilings, and an uneven stairwell.

Santa Clara consists of 111 units. Should it be condemned, it will be next to impossible to find new condos/apartments for those who will be looking. The scarcity of rentals already over the top. Next to impossible to find rentals as it is. Most of those “legally removed” will be forced to leave the area contributing further to Key West’s lack of working help.

On this day in 1953, the Secretary of the Navy issued reprimands to a Rear Admiral who had been Commander of the Key West Naval Base and a Lt. Commander who was a former legal officer at the Base.

Each was found guilty of mishandling the investigation into the Charity Carnival Stag Show which turned into a sexual orgy.

Sort of a what goes around comes around situation. The Navy was constantly on the backs of local police enforcement to close down the various area whore houses which Navy personnel frequented. The whore houses best customers. Now the Navy itself sponsors a charity event which the sailors attended. An orgy results!

The whore houses should not have been blamed. The customers should have.

Recall poet Amanda Gorman. The 22 year old young lady who recited poetry written by her at Biden’s inauguration. She had been “discovered” by the President’s wife who recommended her husband have Amanda participate. Amanda was that good!

And so she was!

Amanda now 23. It was announced yesterday she signed a 3 year contract to be the face of Estee Lauder.

Success beyond belief! God bless her. God bless also Mrs. Biden who recognized Amanda’s talent.

It is time to “pack” the Supreme Court. The U.S. will not survive the Court as presently constituted.

In one week, the Court has forced 11 million households to face eviction and effectively overturned Roe v. Wade in the middle of the night.

Roe v. Wade was not overturned per se. However the Court’s near midnight decision does now allow Texas to by pass Roe’s requirement’s allowing abortions.

John Roberts has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for many years. Though a Republican, he has been a middle roader in many of the Court’s decisions. In recent years voting with Democrats on cases of consequence.

Without question, he has been the “leader” of the Court in practice as well as title.

No more. Trump’s 3 appointments have brushed him aside.

Another reason for increasing the number of Justices.

Ida did a number on New York and New Jersey. Death toll so far 44.

China no place for gays. China officially evidenced its “anti-gay” sentiment by two actions this past week.

China banned men considered “girly” from appearing on TV. The Communist Party banned “sissy men” in order to save China’s “revolutionary culture.”

Enjoy your day!

I had an 8 o’clock appointment at the doctor’s office this morning. Blood work. I was done by 8:15. My choice to return home and keep my self quarantine Simon pure or go out for breakfast. Breakfast won out.

Harpoon Harry’s. My intent was to leave if many people were there. No problem. I made customer #6. There were more workers that customers.

The bar was empty. All 12 seats. I took the one at the end. Wanted to be sure I would not be sitting next to anyone. Even placed my cane on the seat next to me to discourage company.

A guy came in. Sixties. What did he do? Sat next to me. In fact, sat on my cane and did not realize it. All other seats at the bar empty.

All I could think was what an asshole.

I politely said “…..my cane.” He apologized. I then quietly and politely asked if he would move one or two seats away. I told him I was “…..coronavirus crazy.”

He was a good guy. Moved one seat. Better than nothing. Embarrassed, though I was also.

California Republican Kevin McCarthy is dying to be Speaker. He presently is Minority Leader.

Over the past few months, he has become consistently more bullish. Now threatening.

Thirty five companies have had their records subpoenaed by the Congressional January 6 Committee. McCarthy upset. Probably because some of those records will contain material adverse to his well being. He will never become Speaker if revealed.

Yesterday, McCarthy claimed the 35 companies were violating the law if they turned over the information requested in the subpoenas. I am unaware of any such law, nor has anyone in the media been able to identify one so far.

McCarthy said,  “If these companies with Democratic orders to turn over private information, they are in violation of federal law and subject to losing their ability to operate in the United States.”

The next paragraph he uttered was even worse: “If companies still choose to violate federal law, a Republican majority will not forget and will stand with Americans to hold them fully accountable under the law.”

Would you believe such words could be spoken by a high political leader in our society? One that were he to become Speaker, would be second in line to the Presidency.

Ida did a job on New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Vented further as it raced north. Ida hit New York City yesterday.

Flash floods! The Big Apple flooded.

Subways flowing rivers. Inoperable. Internet photos of water pouring down the stairs unbelievable.

All New York City rain fall records were shattered. In one hour, 3.5 inches of rain fell.

The National Weather Service’s New York office declared a “flash flood” for the first time in New York City.

Today is the anniversary of the worst hurricane to hit the Keys up to 1935. Considered by some to be the worse ever. Even more terrible than Andrew.

It is called the Hurricane of 1935. Male/female names not in use at that time.

A Category 5. Passed over Lower Key and Lower Matecumbe Key. Winds 200 mph. Tides 18-20 feet above normal. Four hundred killed.

The number of dead occurred because most were involved in building Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad. Lived in tents by night and worked by day.

Miami knew a big wind was on the way. Sent a train down the Keys to where the men were working. The train was blown off the tracks and destroyed just as it reached the workers.

Not only were hundreds killed, the storm also put the Overseas Railroad into bankruptcy. The end of Flagler’s dream.

Forget not this is hurricane season. Nowhere near over. Ends November 30.

I share this because another hurricane is already on its way. Harry. Now a tropical storm. Projected to be a Category 4 on monday. A Category 3 on sunday.

Described as a “mega storm.”

The cone shows it way out on the Atlantic at the moment. However, moving fast.

There is a good factor. The cone indicates Harry turning north well before it hits U.S. shores. It may hit New York. Appears it will not hit the southeast U.S.

Big few days in Key West this week. The women have taken over the town. It is Womenfest! From 9/1-9/5.

Thousands of lesbians and transwomen are in town.

The event began 20 years ago. It is for females 21 and older.

It is dubbed the HOTTEST party for women in the Florida Keys. Most events are clothing optional.

The Supreme Court Republican majority is sick, except for Chief Justice John Roberts. The Court yesterday voted 5-4 to uphold the new Texas abortion law. The worst anti-abortion law since Roe v. Wade was decided.

The law simple in its application. Once the fetus has a heartbeat, an abortion is banned. The heart beat generally makes its appearance in the sixth week. Most women do not know they are even pregnant in 6 weeks.

There are other negatives involved. You will have already heard them by the time you read my blog.

Something has to be done! We cannot survive with the Supreme Court as constituted. Fairness gone in most instances.

The Court is presently 6-3 Republican. There is not enough time and Democrats in power to adjust the Court’s balance by normal means. It is time for Congress to act.

There is nothing sacred in the number 9 as the number of judges permitted to constitute the Court. The number has varied over the years.

The number of Justices must be increased legally by Democrats and Democrats must be in power throughout the process. Otherwise, the job will not get done. My solution is to increase the number of Justices to 13. Now! While the Democrats have some degree of control. Thirteen will make for a 7-6 Democrat plurality.

I do not suggest the change because I am a Democrat. I want it because the present Court is destroying our country. All Republicans seem to be on a radical path I never thought I would see. From the Texas legislature to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Another example of coronavirus getting out of hand because of an ill planned event.

In the last week of June, a church camp was held. A one week event for teenagers 14-18. Masks and social distancing not required.

Two hundred ninety four campers and 41 staff. To date, nearly 200 have been infected with the virus.

Two comments in today’s Citizens’ Voice worthy of note.

The first provides food for thought.

“Can someone explain why it is OK for hundreds of thousands to enter the USA illegally at the southern border and a few Cubans fleeing a communist country have to be returned.”

The other indicative of a proper thinking Governor. One Florida lacks.

“The Governor of Hawaii is pleading with tourists to avoid the islands right now. What are our leaders doing? Scheduling more super-spreader events and giving their TDC millions of dollars so they can tell tourists to come here. Hawaii is a good example of competent leadership.”

I conclude with a be careful and be aware admonition.

This week and continuing through Labor Day weekend, the Monroe County Sheriff will be participating in Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Such is not merely a Keys program. It is part of a national effort to reduce drunken driving.

Enjoy  your day!

So much has been heard the past 20 years re Afghanistan. Especially the past few weeks.

Little reference to the poppy fields, however. Think hard how many times in the past few weeks you have heard or read about them and their significance.

Seasonal planting begins in a few weeks. Grown will be a white/pink resplendent flower. From whence opium will be produced. Heroin the derivative.

This crop will be the first grown in 20 years without interference from the U.S. and coalition forces.

The Taliban has exploited the poppy crop over the years to fund its insurgency. The Taliban now needs the poppy fields even more. One of the few dependable sources of income available to them.

One hundred twenty thousand Afghans earn their livelihood from planting and working the poppy fields.

The new Taliban government is not going to put them out of work. Accept not what the Taliban is presently saying. They lie when they claim they want no part of the drug trade. Their survival depends on it.

The war lords own the poppy fields. Farmers operate them for the war lords. Workers are locals who reliably year after year work the fields, processing the seeds, and operating the drug laboratories.

When in the recent years or ever in 20 years have you heard of a poppy field being bombed, workers killed by U.S and coalition forces, the labs destroyed. Rarely. Washington supplied fanfare funds occasionally for the military to wipe out the fields. Such action made it look like the U.S. saw the evil involved and were committed to its destruction.

I doubt such was the case. The reasoning for the additional monies to be spent in Afghanistan I suspect was as a cover up by non identifiable sources of the profitable drug trade. Such made it appear the U.S was doing the right thing.

A joke. Those allocating the money may not have known. However there had to be those inside and outside of government who benefited.

Private funds flowed freely into Afghanistan to support the pinnings of the drug trade.

The drug trade that now will totally be in control of the Taliban. Eighty percent of the heroin trade worldwide begins in Afghanistan.

Fifty percent of all U.S. drug deaths in 2019 were the result of Afghanistan heroin produced and supplied. Afghanistan was responsible for 70 percent of heroin related deaths worldwide. Ninety percent of the heroin sold on the streets of the U.S. is Afghanistan originated.

The Taliban cannot do without the income produced by the opium and heroin. It will be the Taliban’s primary source of income for the next few years. The Taliban’s need for cash flow is and will be so great it will not be able to turn its back on the drug income.

China is waiting to move into Afghanistan. I suspect as a partner, not a conqueror, in certain areas.

Afghanistan sits on a gold mine. Literally. China wants to develop and share the income certain minerals and metals will supply.

Lithium is first. Afghanistan has much. It is used in battery technology.

Gold, platinum, silver, cooper, iron, aluminum, and uranium are also available in Afghanistan soils.

China recognizes the money to legitimately be made. Makes me wonder why the U.S. did not. The mineral and metal wealth to be had legitimately is in the trillions in comparison to the billions produced illegally by the poppy fields.

Saudi Arabia has been known for its oil wealth. In 2010, a U.S. Department of Defense memo recognized certain mineral wealth available in Afghanistan with this comment: Afghanistan could one day be known as the “Saudi Arabia of lithium.”

Enjoy your day!