Epstein Distractions that are Working – DC Takeover & Illegal Proposed Russa-Ukraine Swap MEAT

 

Epstein Distractions that are Working – DC Takeover & Illegal Proposed Russa-Ukraine Swap MEAT

The news around the world is scary and truly weird. Trump has been desperately trying to get national attention off the Jeffrey Epstein scandal; he has failed to deliver the proof of a deep state conspiracy of Democratic pedophiles he promised his base. His efforts at erasing cultural and legal reflections from government websites have not distracted his MAGA followers. Some nasties he hoped would slide by have, however, almost worked. Like the website, Constitution.Congress.gov – operated by the Library of Congress and the U.S. Copyright Office – which mysteriously rejected user efforts to access key provisions of our Constitution that would embarrass him when users attempt to view Article I, Section 9 and Article I, Section 10. The missing text provides constitutional limits on federal and state powers, and references to habeas corpus, a safeguard that allows persons to challenge their detention in court. That was largely ignored by the public… but it didn’t move the needle on “Epstein.” The “inadvertent error” will be corrected.

But the distraction efforts continued – aided by strange pronouncements from HHS’ RFK, Jr effectively ending mRNA vaccine research and DOD head Pete Hegseth using his office to champion white Christian nationalism and declaring that women should not have the vote (unless it aligns with their husband’s vote) – and still did not turn voter heads much. Israel’s discussions with South Sudan to take “voluntary” Gazan to a new homeland in that desolate and war-torn nation, nominally moving forward Trump’s now abandoned vision of turning Gaza in a giant beach resort did not distract from Epstein either. Trump just kept trying.

Accusing former President Barack Obama of treason or firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics because of bad employment numbers or imposing more absurd tariffs did not marginalize the Epstein narrative. Nevertheless, in the end, an unprepared self-declared “peace enabler” and a lover of military showcasing, TV celebrity and current president, Donald Trump continued, desperately, trying to diminish that focus on the Epstein scandal… Finally, he just may have found that distraction. Two-fold: first, using fabricated statistics, Trump activated a provision of Washington, DC’s Home Rule statute to send federal and federalized troops and officers to take over that city, preying on an national anti-crime sentiment with his usual extreme exaggeration: “Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.”

Second, with the Russo-Ukraine war seemingly escalating, his scheduled meeting with Vladimir Putin in Russia’s former colony of Alaska (sold to the US in 1867) moved to the global center stage (which made Putin smile). Social and traditional media took the bait, and the Epstein controversy subsided, at least for now. Trump has worked hard, now that he has effective distraction, to lower expectations over that summit. To him and Department of State Secretary Marco Rubio, they will “listen” a lot. Really? That does not sound like the Donald. Trump suggested some “land swaps” between Ukraine and Russia, mostly over Russian occupied Ukrainian territories, should be expected, a position resisted by both European leaders (who share land borders with Russia) and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump, the real estate developer believes there’s always a deal to be made; his transaction world is talking. But as Samya Kullab, writing for the August 13th Associated press reminds us, this war is not a real estate deal: “A peace deal that requires Kyiv to accept swapping Ukrainian territory with Russia would not only be deeply unpopular. It also would be illegal under its constitution.

“That’s why President Volodymyr Zelensky has categorically rejected any deal with Moscow that could involve ceding land after President Trump suggested such a concession would be beneficial to both sides, ahead of his meeting Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska… Zelensky said over the weekend that Kyiv ‘will not give Russia any awards for what it has done,’ and that ‘Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.’ The remarks came after Trump said a peace deal would involve swapping of Ukrainian territories by both sides ‘to the betterment of both.’

“For Zelensky, such a deal would be a disaster for his presidency and spark public outcry after more than three years of bloodshed and sacrifice by Ukrainians. Moreover, he doesn’t have the authority to sign off on it, because changing Ukraine’s 1991 borders runs counter to the country’s constitution… For now, freezing the front line appears to be an outcome the Ukrainian people are willing to accept.” But that’s just a ceasefire. Maybe that’s enough, even permanent ambiguity, to stop the war… Trump is touting the Anchorage meeting as a triumph before it happens… but rogue Putin, a wanted war criminal, gets to stand center stage with the American President… a position that seems to reward toxic greed-driven invasion and conquest.

Sanctions, even against large nations still buying Russian oil, are unlikely to bring Putin to back down; Putin has not changed his position since the war began. Trump, meanwhile, has been all over the map. If Trump really wants to pressure Putin, it seems that furnishing serious new offensive weapons to Ukraine may be the minimum necessary to get Putin to pay attention.

The Russian dictator has seriously increased his attacks against Ukrainian civilian targets in anticipation of the Alaska meeting. All over Russia, since the announced Anchorage summit, commentators are reminding Putin that in the eyes of many Russians, the Tsar did not have the right to sell Russian territory to anyone… and Putin should demand that US relinquish its claim and return that state to Mother Russia. Appeasing Putin begs for him to ask for more! And if this doesn’t look good enough to the American people, “Epstein” is an easy fallback for them.

I’m Peter Dekom, and Barack Obama’s failure to challenge Putin’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea, combined with Trump’s history of appeasing Vladimir Putin, continues to play into the hands of a violent dictator-aggressor… and America still look weak and ineffective against him.