The Failed States of America

A lone C-130 pulled up on the ramp at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland yesterday.  That, in of itself, wasn't that unusual I suppose. The fact that it was from the Republic of South Korea probably wasn't that unusual. But the cargo was.  The Republic of South Korea was delivering 500,000 protective masks to the Failed States of America.  Humanitarian aid to the Government itself -- PPE for the healthcare workers at the Veterans Administration.


Once you get past the fact that our country is in need of humanitarian aid, the article in Military Times was quite touching.

“These masks symbolize our countries’ alliance and the appreciation of the Korean people who have never forgotten the American veterans’ service and sacrifice,” Minister Sam-duck Park said in a statement. “We are always grateful for them.”

A noble gesture indeed. I hope the President of the United States sends a very nice thank you note.  One where everything is spelled correctly.

In case you think I'm being a little harsh with the "Failed States of America" thing, Paul Manafort got out of jail yesterday


Face detail, Manafort Mug Shot (cropped)

I'm not a sadist. I hear prison is tough, but that's sort of the point.  It's a place you don't want to be.   Especially during a pandemic. He wasn't sentenced to death. He was just sentenced to grow old. So, I didn't like the news but, okay, I can live with it. Especially if they put him back in when the pandemic is over.  (Who says I'm not an optimist?)

"Prisons and jails across the country have been hot spots for the spread of the virus, though there were no recorded cases among inmates or staff at the facility where Mr. Manafort was held."

Nope.  That wasn't what bothered me.  It was that fact that Manafort got out and Micheal Cohen is still locked up in Otisville, N.Y. that bothered me.

Michael Cohen in 2019 

"Another person familiar with Mr. Cohen’s incarceration said he would be eligible to be released to home confinement when he has served half of his sentence, which will be this month."

"Some inmates and staff at the Otisville prison have tested positive for the coronavirus and have since recovered, but it has not been as widespread there as it has been at other detention centers."

That Trump's henchman gets out while Trump's betrayer (and our witness) stays locked up is what bothers me. That's what makes America a failed state.  That's what makes Trump so terrible.

Don Brown
May 14, 2020

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