I especially want to thank you for designating India, Brazil and now Japan
as violative of the Sean and David Goldman International Child Parental Abduction and Return Act
Japan is notorious for not returning American children, including American servicemembers' children
and your Department now has taken that step, which previously was not done
to say they are non-compliant with the Goldman Act
and I deeply appreciate that and I hope there will be follow on sanctions with that.
For more infomation >> US Congress requesting sanctions vs Japan to State Secretary Mike Pompeo - Duration: 0:35.-------------------------------------------
Trump has given us the ultimate Chinese import: American princelings #1 - Duration: 5:55.
Trump has given us the ultimate Chinese import: American princelings #1
In China, princelings are privileged relatives of high-level government officials.
Princelings benefit from nepotism and cronyism, using their family ties to conduct business and accumulate wealth.
They also serve as conduits for currying favor with their official relations.
Now President Trump has given us the ultimate Chinese import: American princelings.
They are his sons Donald Trump Jr.
and Eric Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Each engages in business activities and trades on their relationship with the president to pursue business deals and accumulate wealth.
Princelings Donald Jr.
and Eric run President Trump's worldwide business enterprises, although the president still owns and profits from his businesses.
Trump is the first president in modern times to refuse to divest ownership of holdings that were bound to cause conflicts of interest and create the impression of trading U.S.
policy for personal financial gain.
They were also bound to result in multiple violations of the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause, which prohibits the president from receiving financial benefits from other governments without the consent of Congress, in order to prevent corrupting influence from abroad.
When the princeling sons tour the world developing business opportunities, they do so in the long shadow of the president.
Every prospective partner knows they are dealing with the president's sons, and this creates unique opportunities for foreign interests and governments to curry favor and buy influence with the president.
A recent example: In a move that stunned Trump's own advisers, and reversedthe government's previous position, Trump tweeted on May 13 that he wanted to help China's telecom giant ZTE avoid going out of business.
ZTE's problemsstemmed from violating American sanctions and a subsequent settlement of criminal and civil charges for those violations.
This had led to a ban on U.S companies exporting to ZTE, which prevented it from receiving American technology — the ban Trump undermined.
Lo and behold, it emerged that on May 11, two days before the presidential tweet, a Chinese state-owned construction company announced that it would make a loan of $500 million to Indonesian developers to help finance construction of a theme park.
The Trump Organization, operated by the princeling sons, is a partner in the theme park venture that reportedly will include a Trump-branded hotel and golf course.
Because Trump still owns his businesses, he is the beneficiary of all of this.
Today there are reports that Trump has reached a final deal with ZTE. These events raise at least the appearance of a corrupt bargain between China and Trump.
The American people have no way of knowing whether U.S.
policy was sold in return for advancing a major Trump business venture in Indonesia.
The questions only intensified when observers reported that China walked away from the latest round of trade negotiations with far more than they gave up.
This pattern raises serious questions about Trump violating the Foreign Emoluments Clause.
Princeling Jared Kushner was appointed to the White House staff as Trump's senior adviser with a broad range of responsibilities, including the Middle East and China.
Kushner partially divested some of his real estate business when he joined the White House staff, but he continued to own major real estate interests.
According to government financial disclosure reports, Kushner's real estate holdings and other investments are valued at as much as $761 million.
Kushner was known to need large sums of money for his real estate ventures.
Last year, after a founder of Apollo Global Management had multiple White House meetings with Kushner, the company loaned $184 million to the Kushner family real estate firm.
Similarly, shortly after Kushner met in the White House with the chief executive of Citigroup, the company lent the Kushner family real estate group and a partner $325 million.
-------------------------------------------
New look at possible SUMMIT BETWEEN US and NOrth Korea - Duration: 16:22.
this week in the meantime you're probably aware right now that the South
of North Korean leaders met overnight along the Demilitarized Zone and now the
advance team is heading out to Singapore potentially dotting eyes and crossing
the T's on a meeting maybe on June 12th as originally scheduled let's go to the
former Assistant Secretary of State for George W Bush Robert Charles never did
very good to have you what do you make of these developments well I think we're
we're all in a watch and C moment here this is a this is a long game you have
to remember that we're dealing with a country that for the last 68 years has
really become more and more virulent in their not only nuclear ambitions but
also their achievements and and it's going to be a slow process walking them
back I think that there's no surprise here this is going to be a stop and go
stop and go it's a long game but what you're seeing again is I think President
Trump and Mike Pompeo and the entire team is really thinking about creating
new thinking and and that's what we want here I mean we've seen developments we
haven't seen in decades occurring right now so we watch closely we we go move
for move man-to-man and and see where it takes us you know on Saturday I get an
idea that they as angry as they were getting that is the North Koreans and by
extend to the Chinese about the Trump administration I don't think ever in a
million years did they envision the president would turn around and say oh
no but we're not having the meeting and that caught them off guard not going to
be wrong but what do you make of that that they were not prepared for that
much like the old Soviet Union wasn't prepared for Ronald Reagan walking out
of that Reykjavik conference with Mikhail Gorbachev yeah Neil your analogy
is apt very appropriate you know this is a chess game in a way and each step
along the way the president has kept them off-balance he's also kept China
off-balance and think about it from the very beginning he comes in and he breaks
all the glass and he starts talking in pretty strong terms about the reality
that no president recently has talked about in a way that that really makes
people sit up and listen the next thing he does is when Kim jong-un
suggests a summit within 24 hours he accepts it so that's like you start a
chess game and you're going pawn to Bryant and then over sudden Newcastle
that's that's a completely different thing and now you've done it again he he
said you know what if you're not serious then I'm not serious we can we can go
about creating more pressure we can go about talking how the future will look
without this summit all of a sudden they didn't want that discussion and I think
China believe it or not is actually being edged in the same direction but it
takes a long time to walk people back from something where their identity is
tied up in nukes you know um you're the diplomacy expert certainly I'm not so I
I'm curious about the world China is playing near secretary because China is
a very wealthy nation and a wealthy benefactor and yet all the economic
pressure is on us to help the North Koreans and not the Chinese and that
just seems screwed up to me well the Chinese right now really 90 percent of
the North Korean economy depends on China in one way or another right so
they're clearly very tight at the hip here so but but the other side of this
is for the first time Trump has said and he's really saying it to China as much
as he is to to North Korea he said trade and security will be tied together and
we are not happy and not content and will not be content with a country that
has tested a 35 kiloton yield nuclear weapon maybe maybe even a 100 kiloton
weapon which is what destroyed their mountain and has put an ICBM up in an
orbit that's higher than the space station why do you think they're doing
this obviously they came to the table and are frantically rearranging things
on the threat of a canceled meeting for something and I yeah all the time trying
to figure it out well I think they're really at the peak of an a frame this
was a very flat roof up until Trump now it's an a-frame you will either accept
the idea that there's a goose that laid a golden egg that is willing to talk to
you and we are willing to give you benefits and move you from the Dark Ages
into the bright light and we're willing to work with you or you're gonna see a
ramped up frankly I suspect deterrent military engagement sanctions I mean
we're not going to take anything off the table all
sudden what was always hypothetical is suddenly very real with Donald Trump and
this to me is the essence of how he operates he is putting reality on the
table and staying with great authenticity you're either with us or
you're gonna face the consequences of not being with us and China for the
first time is seeing this I I would even argue and again you're the expert in the
business world not me but I would even argue that the ZTE piece here which
everybody is objecting to why how could you let China keep this company going
maybe there's a there's a faint within a faint within a faint maybe deep within
there's a deep strategic understanding and I believe that the trade off is very
real no okay I'll take security and give China and North Korea a little bit of
economic benefit yeah no there's only something new that of course is et the
big Chinese telecom concern that was found to be spying on US espionage it
was sanctioned up the yin-yang and all of a sudden now we're working on
a deal that will protect them there's got to be that's it for tat there but
it's too soon to tell secretary thank you they're over a month
thank you pleasure thank you all right so we'll keep an eye on that keep an eye
on what this team that's heading over to Singapore is going to do what it wants
to outline the eyes it wants to cross and then the guys I think you dot it's
the t's you cross when they get there we'll keep you up to date on that
keep you up to date on what's happening in Texas right now the governor there
Greg Abbott hinting he could support some measures of gun control or at least
reining in a gun use in his state his lieutenant governor has a slightly
different perspective or does he he's nice all right well the president was
tweeting this morning about the heroic teacher in Indiana who somehow managed
to tackle a student suspected of opening fire and in Indiana middle school saying
and I quote thanks to their very teacher and hero adjacent semen of Noblesville
Indiana for his heroic act and saving so many precious young lives as quick and
automatic action is being talked about all over the world with us right now
ever since that Santa Fe school shooting he's been in the news as is governor the
Lieutenant Governor a beautiful state of Texas dan Patrick governor very good to
have you back as always thank you Neil maybe you can clarify a couple of things
from me sir including whether there's a slight difference or gap between your
position on guns and the governor's position on guns governor Abbott seemed
to be open in a variety of meetings he was having this week on this subject
post the shooting to say that he would be open to some sort of action on guns
didn't specify what they would be but presumably he would look at stronger
regulations for registering guns etcetera
speedier background checks so that if someone is a dangerous person or deemed
that way authorities would get that information
more quickly how do you feel about that well first of all I was in all of those
meetings Neil with with the governor and spent a long day yesterday an emotional
day with the families two funerals and two visitations and first want to tell
you Neil that Texas is strong we've we have endured along ten months with a
hurricane the church shooting and now this shooting and when we go to our
knees it's in prayer not because anyone's taking us to our knees and and
no one's going to do that detectors these families are amazing and we have
heroes here as well as you know from this week in terms of guns the governor
I look we work so closely together I think we're the best team in America
quite frankly on many levels for our economy and for all the issues that we
face in Texas we have a robust state as you know leading the country and on guns
we're looking at common-sense solutions I said at the press conference on the
first day Neal that we need to be sure that gun owners which I am we that we
are held accountable to keep our guns out of the hands of children in Texas we
already have a all that it's a crime if you allow a
child to get an unloaded weapon we may need to strengthen some of those laws
but if you're a gun owner you have to be accountable to protect your guns and
keep them away from children so we're looking at that number two we're looking
at making sure we have reports on stolen guns we have a lot of guns stolen we
want to be sure we know where those guns are going who may have them and that we
have a good reporting process and we're also looking at some other timelines
after someone after due process you know what a court of law has been potentially
asked to turn over their guns how many days that is and of course all
responsible gun owners like we are want good background checks so I don't think
there's any any daylight I don't think there's going to be any other thought
except that we need to protect people but we need to protect our Second
Amendment rights both governor Abbott and I are very firm on that and so what
you can get a gun at 21 which is I think is the case in Texas now well there are
a lot of things being talked about Neal but and the governor are working
together through this weekend to lay out a plan of before school starts again and
late August but when we met with the families this week Neal here's what here
were the three things that they talked about most number one they want to
harden the targets at their schools we can have all the behavioral health and
mental health screenings and that's very important that's going to be a big part
of this identifying these shooters and advance to the best of our ability but
we have to keep guns out of schools we have too many entrances to our school
some schools have you know anywhere in America you can walk in any door to a
school so even if you screen someone if they have six or seven opportunities to
get into a school with a gun that makes it dangerous so we have to look at that
and harden these targets to their best of our ability obviously plenty of exits
to get out but they want our schools to be safer number two they want more law
enforcement in Texas we have over a thousand school districts new over five
and a half million students almost in public schools in Texas 150 of our
thousand plus school districts have armed police already school police
forces we have another 172 District's Neal that have teachers that carry we've
had that law in the books for a long time
teachers can carry in Texas with training so that will probably be
expanded it was almost unanimous in these meetings Neil this week especially
with the victims families that they want teachers that are trained to be able to
carry so we need more law enforcement Hardin those targets keep the guns out
of schools from those who would come in and harm others as sensible as some of
the gun issues I talked about and then of course a bigger focus on mental
health issues on the students who could be potential killers you would also talk
early in the week governor about violent video games the rampant culture abortion
and Ireland now of course today looking like it will allow abortions now we
don't have final votes out of that country you say that this has sent a
message of devaluing life but all these forces governor are in effect worldwide
and and if you look at violent video games they're provided almost everywhere
including our own country the only differentiator and this again is just
coming from gunden opponents is that there are 300 million guns in this
country wait wait wait too many you say what I say that guns in the hands of
law-abiding citizens protect us from from those who would harm us if you look
at gun violence across America in many areas it's down in Texas about about one
out of every 17 or 18 people over the age of 20 why didn't happen so much here
when the same forces that played the same argument at devalue in life and in
the increase in all the stuff that you worry about including Willie smiling
games movies etc all paramount across the globe but why disproportionately
here you know I can't compare and I've traveled to many places in the world and
I'm not going to try and compare cuz it's not apples to apples different
countries to different countries and total culture and family values and all
of those issues but now someone has to step back and take a look at where we
are as a culture I did talk about how we've devalued life through abortion
we've devalued life through the family unit where many many children grow up in
a home without any father any parents in charge except maybe a really
hard-working mom who's trying to play both roles and
thank God for them we also have a culture kneel where the estimates are by
the psychiatrist and psychologist and over 95 percent of all teenagers watch a
couple of hours of video games every day and more than half of those are violent
games and we're and we're in a very open society a much larger society than many
of these countries that you talk about that there's a it's a little bit easier
to control the access and control some of those situations so Neil it's not
about the guns it's no different than you know when someone's killed by a
drunk driver we don't blame the car we say we got to get that guy from behind
the wheel and we have to get them to a program it's it is not the gun had not
been for a gun and in Sutherland Springs and and that gentleman Steve was with us
this week talking to the parents and the victims of Santa Fe if it had not been
for him and his rifle that shooter at that church may have killed others right
we want in Texas we believe in our Second Amendment but we believe our
right to defend ourselves we're not going to take that opportunity away from
us to defend our families and to defend our students and so we need and and I
don't nothin is unanimous Neel but the victims that I've talked to the families
I've talked to the students I've talked to the parents go down the list and in
our meetings this week they want more law enforcement on our campuses harder
targets make it tougher to get a gun in school let's close all these doors are
open all over the school that anyone can walk in at any time they want more
teachers with training to be armed we're not backing away from our Second
Amendment rights we're saying we're saying our Second Amendment rights Neal
will help protect more students and that's where the governor and I are
definitely on the same page governor thank you very very much watch out oh
thank you thank you a lot of heroes here Neal in a very emotional day yesterday
and strong family standing on the rock of their faith and a community coming
together as we saw in Sutherland Springs as we saw during the hurricane and now
in Santa Fe incredible people in Texas that's why people by the millions are
coming here there's something special about Texas all right donar thank you
thank you very much a little more after this including the run up at gas prices
you probably noticed if you've been traveling this weekend get used to it
they can go so higher we're on it after this
when I was just uh though talking about this with lieutenant governor Texas Dan
Patrick as expected Ireland has voted to overturn its ban on abortion this is
coming in the prime minister's office there was a countrywide vote on this and
this despite an active rebuke and campaign on the part of the Catholic
Church one's very dominant 80% of Ireland residents are Catholic
nevertheless they ignored their church's preachings on this and have voted to
allow abortions in their country up to 12 weeks that is a very very big
development in Ireland again Ireland now banning what had been a ban on abortion
the only one that I know of across Europe that has has stuck this long
alright we'll keep you posted on that also keep me posted on something closer
to home gas and it's expensive and it's going up and
for 37 million Americans hitting the road
you
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Trump says US prisoner Josh Holt has been released in Venezuela - Duration: 4:28.
Trump says US prisoner Josh Holt has been released in Venezuela
-------------------------------------------
N. Korean coverage of inter-Korean summit puts U.S. issues second - Duration: 2:17.
North Korean state media also released, this morning, a fairly detailed report about the
second inter-Korean summit yesterday.
It wrote that the two Koreas will hold a string of talks next month... and that Kim Jong-un
is determined to go ahead with his June 12th summit with Donald Trump.
Oh Jung-hee has the details.
Pyongyang's Korean Central Television aired seven minutes of footage Sunday morning from
the second Moon-Kim summit.
The background music was familiar to all Koreans: a song called "Our Hope is Reunification."
"After just 29 days, another meeting of great importance has been held between the highest
leaders of the North and the South at the historic site of Panmunjom."
The North Korean report said... the two Koreas will hold a string of talks with each other
as soon as possible,... starting with the high-level talks on June 1st.
It also said... the two leaders agreed to meet and talk face to face as often as possible
to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
Then the report highlighted Kim Jong-un's strong will to go ahead with his summit with
U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Kim Jong-un thanked President Moon Jae-in for working so hard for the North Korea-U.S.
summit slated for June 12th, and expressed his determination that the historic summit
go ahead."
Kim suggested that the two Koreas work together to improve Pyongyang-Washington relations.
With talks underway between the North and the U.S., there is still hope for a summit
to happen on June 12th, but Kim's remarks are seen as part of efforts to make sure that
it does.
Differently from South Korean President Moon Jae-in's own announcement on Sunday, the North
Korean report brought up inter-Korean relations first... and then the North Korea-U.S. summit.
This is viewed by some as the North putting more weight on inter-Korean relations,...
wanting to resolve other issues on the foundation of strong relations with Seoul.
Pyongyang said Moon and Kim, in their meeting, reached a "satisfactory consensus."
The report said... this second summit opens up a new chapter in the development of inter-Korean
relations.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
-------------------------------------------
Trump Frees US Hostage in Venezuela without Exchanging Pallet of Cash - Duration: 11:52.
Trump Frees US Hostage in Venezuela without Exchanging Pallet of Cash
On January 17, 2016, a cargo plane with $400 million in foreign currencies was secretly
sent to Iran in the dead of night.
This was the same day the Iranian regime released four American hostages held in Tehran.
L to R: Matt Trevithick (Photo Credit Robin Wright) Amir Hekmati, Jason Rezaian (Photo
Credit AP), Saeed Abedini (News 4).
Barack Obama later told reporters this was not a ransom payment.
Obama lied.
Former US Iranian Hostage Saeed Abidini told FOX Business Network the Iranian regime WOULD
NOT let his plane leave Tehran until the ransom plane arrived.
abedini ransom
US officials held the ransom cash until the hostages were released.
Two days after Obama sent Iran the ransom cash the US government wired 13 individual
payments for $99,999,999.99 , each with an independent MICR, totaling $1,299,999,999.87.
Cash from Obama's ransom payment to Iran has since been tracked to terrorist groups
in the region.
On Saturday President Trump announced the failed Socialist regime in Venezuela has released
US hostage Josh Holt.
-------------------------------------------
Gen. Joe Dunford's remarks at the U.S. Military Academy 2018 Graduation Ceremony - Duration: 13:47.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It's an honor to be with you as we recognize
the accomplishments of the class of 2018 and we witness the commissioning of
our newest Army leaders. Congressman Womack, thank you for your
leadership here at the academy, but more importantly thanks for all you do for
our men and women in uniform. Secretary Esper, General Milley--thank you both to
your leadership and I know the soldiers in the crowd would agree with me that
the Army of the United States could not be in better hands. General Caslen, thanks for the
introduction but more importantly, Supe, thanks for your leadership at West Point
the last five years and throughout your distinguished career. As you prepare to
retire, know that you've left behind an extraordinary legacy--the most important
legacy a leader can leave behind--and that's a legion of men and women that
are proud to call themselves Caslen-trained and Mrs. Caslen, Shelley, I know
you're out there somewhere, I want to thank you for the what you've done
for the countless cadets, their families, and our Army families through over four
decades of service and cadets, the Supe asked you a minute ago to recognize
your parents, I'm gonna ask you to please stand up and recognize your
superintendent. He would not want me to do that but I got to tell you after 43
years of active duty and all he has done to help shape and mold you for the
future, I'd ask you to join me in recognizing the impact he's had on you.
And most importantly, to the class of 2018: congratulations. I know today caps what's
been a busy week of events to recognize your accomplishments and I'm sure you're
feeling pretty good at this point, and you should. Four years ago you accepted the
challenge to join the Long Gray Line. You could have chosen an easier path, but you
didn't. As General Caslen said, you faced that cadet in the red sash on "R-
day" and, according to legend, there were torrential rains on that day. You
survived Beast Barracks, plebe boxing, Camp Buckner and you were scrambled not
once, but twice, and I understand that you were actually the last class to be
scrambled. It wasn't easy, in fact I was told by the president of your class, it was so
tough you posted the lowest plebe grades of any class in recent history.
and your class president told me that with some source of pride but looking at
you now, whether you're the honor grad or "the goat," you made it. And among you are
scholarship recipients, world-class athletes, inventors and published authors.
And, as General Caslen said, we can't forget it was while you were here that
the tide was finally turned in the Army-Navy game.
You know, I thought that you would probably get excited about that, but I
want to tell you, I've been the chairman now for three Army-Navy games. I'm two
for three. And Army has actually scored more points when I have sat on the Army
side, then when I sat on the Navy side so the coaches, the twelfth man and the
team may get some credit, but I'm taking a little bit of credit myself for what
happened those two years. On a more serious note, I want to personally thank
you for answering the call to serve during a very challenging time. You chose,
you chose to join an Army at war and to that point, today there's more than
178,000 soldiers actively supporting missions around the world. Many are in
harm's way and they're joined by thousands more sailors, airmen and
Marines and as we celebrate today I'd ask you to keep them and their families
in your thoughts and prayers. This is also Memorial Day weekend and I'd ask you
to be particularly mindful of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and our
Gold Star families. While those of you graduating today
should be proud of what you've accomplished, I know that you recognize
you didn't get here by yourself. And appropriately enough the superintendent
recognized the families as we began the program and I would tell you those of us
sitting in the dais have the best seats in the house because we have the
chance to look out at the faces of the parents, the grandparents, the siblings and
the friends and their faces are beaming with pride and they should be. They played an
important part in you sitting here today. But I'd also ask you to recognize the
faculty and staff here at the Academy. You couldn't have the premier leadership
experience in the world were it not for their efforts. And perhaps more
importantly they have, over the last four years, shown you what right looks like
and they have every reason to be proud of you today and I'd ask you to please
recognize the contribution that the faculty and staff at the premier
leadership institution in the world has had on you.
Class of 2018 you might find it hard to imagine but I've been in your shoes.
And although it's been 41 years ago this week, I can clearly recall my own
graduation and commissioning and how anxious I was to get on with the next
phase of my life. I wasn't particularly interested in what the graduation
speaker had to say you, and I'm going to make a bold assumption: I'm going to
assume that many of you share the same sentiment that I had on my graduation
day about the graduation speaker. So with that in mind I'm not going to go on long,
but as you prepare for the challenges of Army leadership in the next chapter of your
lives, I just want to leave you with a few thoughts. First point I'd make is
that the profession of arms is dynamic and to be successful, you have to anticipate
and embrace the constant changes in the character war. Here at West Point, you've
studied military history and you recall the price paid in the 20th century by
armies that were slow to adapt. One hundred years ago, leaders on both sides
of World War I were slow to grasp the significance of emerging technologies and
the changing character of war. The price for that delay was high--ten
million in uniform were killed--a figure that's unfathomable today. To some
extent, you can say the same thing about the eve of World War II.
For example while a blitzkrieg reflected the Germans appreciation for the
potential of armor supported by close- air, major Western armies continued to view
the tank as merely an infantry support weapon and frankly,
if we look back at change over the past century, most of the changes occurred
after significant failure. But there were notable exceptions. In the years before
Vietnam, a small number of Army leaders considered how the helicopter might be
employed to enhance mobility on the battlefield.
among them were men like Jim Gavin from the West Point class of '29 Hamilton
Howze from the class of '30 and Hal Moore from the class of '45. Their ideas rapidly
evolved from articles and briefings to the 1965 combat deployment of the first
Calvary Division- Airmobile. These soldiers drove innovation that combined
emerging technology with operational concepts. They fundamentally changed Army
maneuver.
And their ideas remain relevant today.
The moral of the story is that there's no substitute for taking a clear-eyed
look at the threats we'll face and asking how our force will adapt to meet those
threats. There's no substitute for leaders like Jim Gavin that recognized
the power of new ideas, new technologies and new concepts, and more importantly
there's no substitute for leaders like Hal Moore with a bias for action and a
drive to affect change. For the class of 2018,
I believe the need to aggressively lead change is going to be particularly
important to you. I say that because everyone here in a Dais knows that the
pace of change and the speed of war has greatly accelerated and in many ways the
environment that you're going to lead in is very different than the one that
confronted lieutenants in 1918, in 1968, or frankly even in 2008. So regardless of
where you find yourself serving in our Army, challenge yourself to be the
kind of leader that continues to think about, to write about, and to lead change.
Bring your intellectual curiosity and the openness to new ideas that
you established here at West Point--bring that with you forward in your days as an
Army leader. Be inspired by those soldiers who pioneered air assault and
the many others who have enabled the Army to adapt and win throughout our
nation's history. Class of 2018, earlier I mentioned how
clearly I remember my graduation day and how disinterested I was in the speaker but
there's something else that I remember very clearly about the day that I was
commissioned. Like you, I had studied military history and I remember finding it
difficult to identify with the exploits and the courage of those who went before
me. I remember wondering how I would meet the expectations of my future platoon.
How would I respond if I was called to lead them in harm's way or how would I
deal with those tough leadership issues that we know we will all experience? I
wondered if I'd remember anything that I had learned in school and you may be
sitting here having similar thoughts. You may wonder how you'll measure up to your
predecessors: the Pattons the Eisenhowers or the Bradleys. Closer to
home you may wonder how you'll measure up to some of the leaders who have
influenced you here at West Point. Leaders like Major Nick Eslinger now
teaching in Behavioral Sciences and leadership. As a platoon leader in Iraq
he courageously risked his life to protect his fellow soldiers. Or Major
Jill Rahon from the Physics Department. Jill had the presence of mind and the
courage to pull two fellow pilots from a burning helicopter before their rockets
cooked off or Major Jake Miraldi from the
Department of Military Instruction. Jake demonstrated exceptional competence and
leadership while leading a Quick Reaction Force during some of the
toughest fighting in Afghanistan. You may also wonder if you'll meet the
challenge of leading in a period of great change and have the leadership and
the drive of Hal Moore. Well you may wonder, you may wonder the most important
question: Will you meet the expectation of your soldiers? But I've got to tell
you, just like General Caslen mentioned a minute ago, when I look out at you I
don't have those concerns. Don't get me wrong-- I'm not understating for a minute
the impact that your predecessors have had or their accomplishments. What they
did was remarkable. In the end, they took ordinary groups of young men and women
and inspired them to do extraordinary things at places like Normandy, Ia
Drang and Nuristan and that's certainly a big deal. But if you look at how these
leaders succeeded I think you'll recognize the method. And you remember
that the fundamentals of leadership are the most important aspect of our
profession and they're a part of our profession that hasn't changed since
President Jefferson founded this institution in 1802. It's true that your
predecessors like Lieutenant Eslinger, Lieutenant Rahon and Lieutenant Miraldi
attacked their profession with energy and enthusiasm. It's true that they were
smart, they were tough, and they were competent. And it's true that many of
them demonstrated great courage when called to lead in harm's way.
But it's also true that the primary reason your predecessors were successful
is that they recognize that after West Point, it was no longer about their
individual capabilities. They knew it was about their team. They knew it was about
instilling an esprit in their units and a will to fight in their individual
soldiers. They knew it was about establishing a bond of trust between the
leaders and the led. In the end they knew that character, competence, courage and
commitment-- that's all part of the sticker price of being an Army leader.
After West Point, you get no more credit for that-- it's a given. As a lieutenant
you won't be wearing the star or the wreath on your uniform nor will you be
displaying your athletic trophies. When you check into units, your soldiers will
simply want to know that you'll lead from the front and you'll put their
interests ahead of your own. To paraphrase one of your more quotable
predecessors, General George Patton: "Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are
won by men and women. It's the spirit of the soldiers who follow and the officers
who lead that gained victory." Class of 2018 what I'm really reminding
of this morning is something very similar to what the superintendent said
a minute ago: if you take care of your soldiers, they'll take care of you.
If you lead, they'll follow, and together you'll take the hill. Thank you, in
advance, for taking care of the young men and women who'll proudly follow your
lead. Thanks for carrying on the traditions of the Long Gray Line.
God bless you. Semper Fidelis and Army strong.
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What are the next steps for US-North Korea negotiations? - Duration: 5:05.
For more infomation >> What are the next steps for US-North Korea negotiations? - Duration: 5:05. -------------------------------------------
Freed American prisoner back on US soil - Duration: 2:40.
For more infomation >> Freed American prisoner back on US soil - Duration: 2:40. -------------------------------------------
North, South Korean Leaders Meet To Discuss U.S.-North Korean Summit - Duration: 0:55.
For more infomation >> North, South Korean Leaders Meet To Discuss U.S.-North Korean Summit - Duration: 0:55. -------------------------------------------
Pervez Khattak Wife Offloaded From US bound Flight پرویز خٹک کی اہلیہ کو امریکا جانے سے روک دیا گیا - Duration: 1:21.
Pervez Khattak Wife Offloaded From US bound Flight for not carrying travel documents Peshawar Airport
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HBO Buzz w/ John McCain, U.S. Senators & More | John McCain: For Whom The Bell Tolls | HBO - Duration: 1:31.
JOHN MCCAIN: I've been tested a number of occasions.
I haven't always done the right thing,
but you will never talk to anyone
that is as fortunate as John McCain.
RICK DAVIS: He's not one to talk freely
about his life and accomplishments,
and HBO caught it on this film.
♪ (WONDROUS MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
CHARLES SCHUMER: We're all so honored to say a few words
about John McCain.
You rarely meet great people...
He's one of them.
(CAMERAS CLICKING)
I think he represents something that's missing right now.
NANCY PELOSI: His strength. His authenticity.
And, of course, the sacrifice that he made for our country
was extraordinary.
The movie is excellent.
It tells the story, works, and all.
TEDDY KURNHARDT: He said, "Well, this is really my last fight."
We assumed he meant cancer, what he really meant is...
he wants to bring the Congress back together.
We're getting nothing done.
SUSAN COLLINS: People are tearing down
the institutions in our country.
That is the antithesis of John McCain.
ROB PORTMAN: Although, he's a Republican,
he is not a natural partisan.
John McCain is first and foremost, an American.
And, I am so grateful.
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N. Korean coverage of inter-Korean summit puts U.S. issues second - Duration: 2:25.
North Korean state media also released, this morning, a fairly detailed report about the
latest inter-Korean summit.
It wrote that the two Koreas will hold a string of talks next month... and that Kim Jong-un
is determined to go ahead with his June 12th summit with President Trump.
Oh Jung-hee has the details.
Pyongyang's Korean Central Television aired seven minutes of footage Sunday morning from
the second Moon-Kim summit.
The background music was familiar to all Koreans: a song called "Our Hope is Reunification."
"After just 29 days, another meeting of great importance has been held between the highest
leaders of the North and the South at the historic site of Panmunjom."
The North Korean report said... the two Koreas will hold a string of talks with each other
as soon as possible,... starting with the high-level talks on June 1st.
It also said... the two leaders agreed to meet and talk face to face as often as possible
to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
Then the report highlighted Kim Jong-un's strong will to go ahead with his summit with
U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Kim Jong-un thanked President Moon Jae-in for working so hard for the North Korea-U.S.
summit slated for June 12th, and expressed his determination that the historic summit
go ahead."
Kim suggested that the two Koreas work together to improve Pyongyang-Washington relations.
With talks underway between the North and the U.S., there is still hope for a summit
to happen on June 12th, but Kim's remarks are seen as part of efforts to make sure that
it does.
Differently from South Korean President Moon Jae-in's own announcement on Sunday, the North
Korean report brought up inter-Korean relations first... and then the North Korea-U.S. summit.
This is viewed by some as the North putting more weight on inter-Korean relations,...
wanting to resolve other issues on the foundation of strong relations with Seoul.
Pyongyang said Moon and Kim, in their meeting, reached a "satisfactory consensus."
The report said... this second summit opens up a new chapter in the development of inter-Korean
relations.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
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US House Strips Trump Of War Powers On Iran – Media Blackout - Duration: 3:32.
For more infomation >> US House Strips Trump Of War Powers On Iran – Media Blackout - Duration: 3:32. -------------------------------------------
Jackson grabs #1 spot on iTunes US Pop Chart with 'Fendiman' - Duration: 0:53.
GOT7's Jackson attained the number 1 spot on iTunes US Pop Chart with his newest single "Fendiman"
SEE ALSO: GOT7's Jackson wants you to call him 'Fendiman' in his new MVOn May 25, Jackson released his new single "Fendiman", a collaborative track with 'Fendi' China as the idol became the newest endorsement model for its menswear brand in China
Since releasing the track, with the support of listeners and fans alike, it managed to grab the number 2 spot on iTunes Top 100 Songs Chart while ranking number 1 on the iTunes US Pop Charts!Congratulations, Jackson! Jackson,
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US House Strips Trump Of War Powers On Iran – Media Blackout - Duration: 3:33.
For more infomation >> US House Strips Trump Of War Powers On Iran – Media Blackout - Duration: 3:33. -------------------------------------------
Trump has given us the ultimate Chinese import: American princelings #2 - Duration: 5:31.
Trump has given us the ultimate Chinese import: American princelings #2
Now the Kushner family real estate business is reportedly close to entering a deal with a company linked to Qatar that could bail Kushner Cos.
out of a flagship troubled property and a huge financial hole.
Jared Kushner had previously sold his stake in the property involved to a trust run by his mother.
Nevertheless, the Kushner family real estate business stands to lose an enormous amount of money without this bailout, and Qatar certainly knows that Kushner's White House portfolio includes the Middle East.
Meanwhile, U.S.
policy towards Qatar has apparently softened after Trump originally took a hard line against the country.
Are these events just coincidences, or do they involve the exchange of U.S.
policy for financial benefits? The transactions create the appearance of a conflict of interest for Kushner, and through him for Trump.
Here too, there is no way for the American people to know what happened behind the scenes.
This is why it is so important for officials like Kushner to divest holdings that could cause conflicts and why it is so dangerous when they do not.
Princeling Ivanka Trump is also a White House official.
She has, despite partially divesting, maintained a number of business ventures which sell products all over the world.
A key to her business ventures is the ability to obtain Ivanka Trump trademarks for products.
According to media reports, her enterprise as of spring 2017 held more than 180 pending and registered trademarks in the U.S., Europe and other nations including Canada, India, Japan, Israel, Mexico, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
This included more than 30 trademark applications pending in China, with four marks granted preliminary approval.
Here is the princelings' game in operation: Ivanka Trump's company last year won provisional approval from the Chinese government for three new trademarks on the same day that she and Kushner sat next to Chinese President Xi Jinping of China at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago.
By last summer, Ivanka Trump's business had reportedly obtained preliminary approval for four more trademarks in China. Five additional trademarks were approved earlier this month.
Not unknown to China is the fact that, in addition to Ivanka Trump being the president's daughter, her husband Jared Kushner has China as part of his White House portfolio.
When foreign governments do business with Ivanka Trump, they know that they are dealing with the favored daughter of the U.S.
president who also works in her father's White House.
Some countries will no doubt see this as a way to curry favor with President Trump.
Other countries may see the business requests made by his daughter's company as requests they cannot refuse.
All of these issues cause serious credibility problems for the president and his family of princelings with the American people.
A president sets the standards for his administration.
President Trump's standard is that public office can and should be used for private financial gain.
It is way past time for Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to end their ongoing conflicts of interest that come at the expense of the American people.
They need to either fully divest their business enterprises or leave their White House jobs.
It is also irresponsible and an abuse of office for the president to continue to own his worldwide business enterprises.
But since the president refuses to divest his businesses, his princeling children need to stop misusing the presidency and leave the Trump businesses.
Fred Wertheimer is President of Democracy 21.
Norman Eisen, a senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, is the chair of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). .
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