USDA Radio Newsline
Friday, June 21st Stories:
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Iran—Who and where is the threat?
by Mel Gurtov
663 words
The official US narrative on Iran is that it is an escalating threat to “peace and security” in the Middle East and must be stopped. Step by step, with Mike Pompeo and John Bolton—two war maniacs—taking the lead, the Trump administration has sought to destabilize Iran with sanctions, if possible bring about regime change, and if necessary provoke actions by Iran that will provide a pretext for war. If this sounds similar to the nonexistent Gulf of Tonkin “incident” in 1964 and the false pretenses behind the post-9/11 invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, it should. Only this time around is even more dangerous and more preposterous.
Journalists and Congress members have been pestering Trump and his aides with questions about their determination to go to war with Iran. Trump, typically, tells reporters to wait and see, stymieing them. They should be asking different questions, such as: What threat does Iran pose to US interests? Why shouldn’t Iran’s actions be considered responses to the US policy of “maximum pressure”? The answers to these two questions are clear: Iran is doing nothing that constitutes a new threat to US or any other country’s interests, and Iran’s latest actions—even if Tehran is responsible for the attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf and the downing of a US drone—are best understood as responses to US provocations.
What I believe we are now witnessing is the result of the ascendance of the hardliners on both sides. US policy since the appointments of Pompeo and Bolton and withdrawal from the nuclear deal has energized their counterparts in Iran—the Revolutionary Guards, certain military leaders, and others long opposed to the nuclear deal and now able to show that the Americans are completely untrustworthy.
The fact is that the Trump administration has been on a mission from Day One, with open support from Israel and Saudi Arabia, to eliminate—not merely deter or contain—the ayatollah’s government. That mission has engaged US administrations since the early 1950s, but unlike those previous efforts, Trump seems prepared to commit US forces to accomplish regime change. Yes, he has said he wants to avoid war, especially with a reelection campaign underway. That is why his preference is not to deploy yet another war-fighting force to the Middle East, which would undermine his longstanding criticism of “endless wars” there. But preference is not policy, and the policy, being relentlessly pushed by Bolton and Pompeo, is to push Iran’s regime to the brink and get rid of it.
If Trump takes the US to war with Iran, which could happen without consultation or authorization from Congress (another impeachable offense), the responsibility will be squarely on his head.* Thanks to the Obama administration, Iran has been in compliance with the nuclear deal, an achievement that is very much in the security interests of the US and its Middle East allies. Obama showed that moving from confrontation to engagement pays off, and that mutual respect can move mountains even when trust is absent. Now, however, the enemies of “peace and security” are in Washington, Tel Aviv, and Riyadh. And among the most outrageous aspects of Trump’s Middle East policy is rewarding those enemies—Israel, with a full tilt to Benjamin Netanyahu’s assault on the Palestinians, complete with a dead-on-arrival “peace plan”; and Saudi Arabia, with billions of dollars in military aid so that the murderous crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, can continue his aggression in Yemen.
I will say again: Donald Trump and his minions are the chief threats to America’s—and for that matter, the world’s—real security.
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*The New York Times reports the evening of June 20 that Trump had decided to strike Iran over the drone incident but, for undisclosed reasons, withdrew the order. If the report is accurate, it means that once again he, like previous presidents, is prepared to use “retaliation” as an excuse for using force without proof of a threat or Congressional consent.
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Mel Gurtov, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Portland State University.
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The Hawk 5 Gyroplane
The industry leader in gyronautics is partnering with UTVA to make high performance, cost-effective runway independent aircraft available throughout the world
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, U.S.A., June 21, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Today, Skyworks Global Inc. and UTVA, a subsidiary of Serbian-Government owned Yugoimport, announced a strategic partnership to manufacture Skyworks’ 5 seat runway independent gyroplane.
The Hawk 5 gyroplane combines the safety, reliability and cost effectiveness of fixed wing aircraft with the runway independence of a helicopter. Its simple, elegant design reduces much of the complexity associated with rotary wing aircraft, resulting in lower operating costs and higher reliability and making the Hawk 5 particularly well suited to serve delivery, transportation and patrol needs in a wide range of environments including the rugged conditions seen in developing countries.
The Hawk 5 will be built at UTVA’s 925,000 sq. ft. facility at Pancevo Center in Serbia, which has a rich tradition of aircraft manufacturing. Offering highly sophisticated production and system capabilities from a trained labor force of qualified aerospace professionals operating within an economically competitive region, UTVA’s 80+ years of demonstrated manufacturing excellence well-positions both companies to capitalize on and meet the demand for safe, low-cost runway independent aircraft. In addition to manufacturing its own aircraft, UTVA has achieved ISO 9001 quality assurance certification and has been certified by Boeing since 1990 as an airframe parts and assemblies manufacturer. As a Boeing certified supplier, the center has produced machined and sheet metal aircraft parts, tools and assemblies, including slats, wing tips and floor supports, for Boeing 737, 747 and 757 aircraft.
“This is a very historic day for our company,” remarked Skyworks-Global Executive Director Brig. General (Ret.) John Michel. “As the world leader in the science and technology of gyronautics, striving to make runway independent transportation systems available to cost-sensitive customers in the first world as well as to developing countries that lack the infrastructure to support maintenance intensive systems, this partnership enables us to produce safe, highly reliable and affordable aircraft for a host of markets that have, until now, been significantly underserved. With a strong leadership and technical team and a deep bench of intellectual property, Skyworks’ manufacturing partnership with UTVA positions us to be the first in the modern world to commercialize Gyrocraft at scale.”
About Skyworks
Skyworks Global Inc., is the world leader in gyronautics, the study and design of sustained autorotative flight represented by the company's gyroplane technology. Skyworks has more than 40 patents with several more underway, all obtained in an effort to radically change not only the way gyroplanes are perceived, but also the way they are utilized. From mass personnel transportation, agriculture, and border protection to literally changing the economies of developing nations, Skyworks' goal is to change the paradigm of aerial technology. For more information about the company, its products, and individual members of the Skyworks team, visit www.Skyworks-Global.com.
About UTVA
UTVA is a subsidiary of Yugoimport ( http://www.yugoimport.com/en ). UTVA’s 925,000 sq ft Pancevo Center provides the immediate capability and capacity to produce aircraft and aerospace vehicle parts, components and systems, employing qualified aerospace machinists and assembly workers who are capable of prototyping and producing aircraft and aerospace products. With a 80-year history of producing aircraft, this center can serve as a principal manufacturing center for aircraft for both the European and global market. This facility can also produce major aircraft assemblies for final completion in other parts of the world.
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SemaConnect smart EV charging stations
Leading Electric Vehicle Charging Company Will Exhibit Smart EV Charging Stations in Booth 728 at the Salt Palace Convention Center on June 23-24
We look forward to helping BOMA members and attendees better serve their tenants and employees in 2019 and beyond.”
— Jesus Ferro, director of marketing at SemaConnect
SALT LAKE CITY, USA, June 21, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ -- SemaConnect, leading provider of Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations to the North American commercial property market, announces that it will be exhibiting at the 2019 Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International Conference and Expo at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 23-24. This will be SemaConnect’s seventh year as an exhibitor and second as an Ambassador Partner.
“We are excited to once again meet with building and facilities professionals at BOMA,” said Jesus Ferro, director of marketing at SemaConnect. “Electric vehicle charging is the next big amenity for commercial properties, and we’re seeing an increase in inquiries from property managers looking to learn about electric vehicles at their properties. We look forward to helping BOMA members and attendees better serve their tenants and employees in 2019 and beyond.”
SemaConnect will be exhibiting the ENERGY STAR certified Series 5 and Series 6 smart charging stations at the show. Both products are designed so commercial properties can easily offer EV charging as an amenity and earn an additional source of revenue from drivers. The Series 5 is designed for designated parking for multifamily and fleet use. The Series 6 is designed for shared parking at multifamily, corporate, and other types of commercial properties. Both offer access and pricing controls, smart card authentication, interactive LED lights, and a sleek form factor. In addition, the Series 6 networked shared station offers interoperability with leading driver programs such as PlugShare, Electrify America, and EVGo. Conference attendees can ask their EV charging questions and see the Series 5 and Series 6 smart charging stations in person at Booth 728 in the Green Pavilion.
About SemaConnect:
SemaConnect is the leading provider of electric vehicle amenities to the North American commercial and residential property markets. A complete EV support partner, SemaConnect delivers a truly modern property experience through innovative, elegantly designed charging stations and a robust and open network. The company has helped maximize property value and appeal through thousands of successful Class A deployments since its founding in 2008, for companies such as CBRE, JLL, Hines, Greystar, Cisco Systems and Standard Parking. SemaConnect remains the preferred charging solutions partner of municipal, parking, multifamily, hotel, office and retail customers across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit https://www.semaconnect.com/.
