12/27/2023

Dec 27, 2023

JRB,

            I hope you enjoy your visit to St Croix & that you get a chance to snorkel. It’s fitting that you will be one of the first Americans to ring in 2024!

Did you see Marc Thiessen’s piece about the 10 best things you did in 2023? I disagreed with almost everything on his list especially #10 where he applauds you for the extra-judicial killing of a top Islamic State leader in Syria.

            I haven’t made my list of your top 10 accomplishments for 2023, but I did look at the 24 Executive Orders you signed this year. I didn’t have time to read the fine print of each one, but did appreciate the part of the reducing gun violence EO from March which said, “The Federal Trade Commission is encouraged to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors & how such manufacturers market firearms to civilians, including through the use of military imagery.” Has that report been completed? If so, might it lead to some regulation of said marketing? That would be great!

            I was curious about EO 14107: Exemption of Paul H. Maurer (PHM) From Mandatory Separation. I assume you had to break some rules to keep PHM on GWB’s secret service detail.

            In looking for news about Burma today I ran across an article suggesting that Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize (NPP) for sheltering & safeguarding the Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution & violence in Myanmar. I encourage you to recognize her in some way.

            Speaking of the NPP, do you know how this year’s winner, Narges Mohammadi, is doing? Has the Ayatollah released her from prison? She didn’t get as much attention as she should have due to the Gaza situation. Her friend, Masih Alinejad, says women in Iran refuse to be afraid & have turned the tables on the rulers in Iran by showing their hair & their faces in public to show they will not be intimidated.

            Who knew hair could be such a powerful political statement?

            BYBS,