RAIDER 1 Citizen News for Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023
Russia Failed ICBM Test, Putin Withdrawal from Nuclear Pact, Crackdown at the Southern Border and more in this edition!
Did Russia Have a Failed ICBM Test While Biden Was in Ukraine?
U.S. officials seem to think so.
The U.S. had been in communication with the Kremlin via deconfliction lines regarding Biden’s visit. I was via these same lines that Russia notified of the test.
This was a test of the SARMAT missile, nicknamed the SATAN II by the United States, capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads.
Officials believe the test failed. Otherwise, Putin would have mentioned it in his State of the Nation address yesterday.
Putin Withdraws Nuclear Pact Participation
The last remaining pact that regulates Russia and the U.S., the world’s largest nuclear powers, is called the New START Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaty.
Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that he is suspending his country’s participation. Hours later, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the suspension was “reversible”.
Whatever that means! Is it on or off?
Interesting news nonetheless in light of all that is happening with Russia.
Japan Looking to “Lead the World” with 5.5 Billion in Aid for Ukraine
Japan pledges the largest amount in humanitarian aid to day for Ukraine.
They previously promised $600 million in financial relief and $700 million in humanitarian aid, but have eclipsed their previous pledges with their new promise.
No doubt, they are seeking to align themselves in a manner that might assure them protection given the recent missile test from North Korea on their West Coast.
They know firsthand the impact of nuclear war after being hit with two atomic bombs during WWII in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Uranium Fire at Oak Ridge Facility in Tennessee
A fire that broke out early today at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee was contained quickly with no injury or radioactive release.
The fire was contained in a small area of the processing plant and that area was evacuated.
Crackdown at the Southern Border?
In anticipation of a surge at the Southern border once the pandemic measure is lifted in May, the Biden administration announced a new policy on Tuesday.
The new rule presumes that migrants attempting the country illegally are ineligible for asylum.
This would allow for the rapid deportation of anyone who failed to to request asylum from another country en route to the border or notify border patrol via a mobile app of their intentions to seek asylum.
This policy would take effect on May 11 and be in place for 2 years.
Major Winter Storm Hits Northern U.S.
The National Weather Service has issued multiple warnings for winter storm, blizzard, and high-wind across areas of the western and north-central U.S.
Meteorologists are predicting record snowfall.
NASA Catches Empire State Building Sized Asteroid on Radar as It Passes Earth
An oblong asteroid, the most elongated ever imaged, passed within 1.1 million miles of Earth on Feb. 3rd.
Planetary radar has observed 1,040 near-Earth objects to date. Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory were able to observe the asteroid from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4th and take note of many details.
State Officials are Calling on Norfolk Southern to Take Responsibility for East Palestine Train Derailment
The EPA is placing the burden of clean-up following the train accident which occurred on Feb. 3rd resulting in a dispersing of hazardous chemicals in the air which contaminated waterways.
Officials in Pennsylvania are also looking for Norfolk Southern to take responsibility for the accident.
Water Crisis in the West
The water levels at Lake Mead, the reservoir that feeds the Hoover Dam, have been dropping consistently since 2000.
In recent years, it has hit critical mass as the former water levels are constantly visible many feet above the current water surface.
Just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, folks are receiving water delivered to underground tanks and have employed drastic water-saving measures.
Their warning: “We’re just the first domino to fall.”
Lake Mead is fed by the Colorado River and supplies water to almost the entire Southwestern U.S. The severe drought that has caused the ongoing drop in water levels affects multiple states and millions of people.
The Federal government is being forced to step in to handle disputes among the states in the Colorado River Basin over the water supply.
Wake up and pay attention. The lack of water will make it more valuable than gold or oil.
Murdaugh Trial Update
Buster’s testimony was uneventful and commentators are discussing how it didn’t move the needle at all.
The laughable “gun expert” testimony from the Defense yesterday was insane with one lawyer waving around a Blackout rifle like the one used in the killings. He pointed it at the Prosecution and said, “Tempting.”
Also the testimony of the engineer regarding the ballistics evidence and his “expert opinion” that an over 6-foot-tall Alex Murdaugh couldn’t have made the shots. It couldn’t have been anyone over 5’2”.
On Cross, the State showed the shots could have been made by kneeling.
Judge reprimanded a member of the Defense team for retweeting an article about the trial. This behavior could result in a mistrial and this lawyer knows better!
The Netflix documentary about the Murdaugh family murders was released today. This poses new concerns for a jury that is not sequestered.
Today, more testimony from Defense witnesses including Murdaugh’s former law partner.
There was also a motion for ludicrous protections for Alex in the event he testifies which the Judge denied.
The Good News
Heinz is Looking for Elvis Francois, the Guy Who Survived Lost at Sea for 24 Days with Only Ketchup and Spices to Eat
The folks over at Heinz are looking for the guy who survived lost at sea for 24 days on Ketchup and spices.
Apparently, they want to buy him a new boat!
We don’t know about you, but we’re not sure we’d want a new boat after that!