PBC News & Comment: Bully Bluffs Bully, Risking Nuclear War

Trump’s allegedly unscripted “Fire and Fury” threat to North Korea is a thoughtless, risky escalation that could lead to nuclear war…--Trump claims that he has made our nuclear arsenal stronger, more powerful, and even Kim Jong Un knows that’s bullshit,
--Little Kim called Trump’s bluff almost immediately, with new threat to attack Guam
--Asian allies respond with caution and consternation
--Texas megachurch pastor issues Christian fatwa, says Romans 13 gives Trump the authority to take out Kim Jong Un
--Trump dropped the threat at a meeting that was about the opioid epidemic, and it appears Trump is ignoring recommendations of Christie panel
--in appeal, Sgt. Robert Bales, convicted of killing spree in Afghanistan, argues that forced dosing of anti-malaria drug mefloquone triggered his actions
--NY Times waxes about Bornholm, the island in Denmark that’s the home of PBC listener Jens Ivan Nielsen
--at Shadowproof, Kevin Gosztola reports that the trial of CIA torture consultants Mitchell and Jessen will proceed on Sept 5, as judge slams false claims
--last Saturday in Portland, Sen. Ron Wyden expected a lovefest for protecting Obamacare, but he got an earful over AIPAC’s anti-BDS bill; the report at Mondoweiss is here
--in surprise move, Sen. Elizabeth Warren drops support for anti-BDS bill
--NY Times reports that Israelis are contemplating the post-Netanyahu power struggle, as Bibi faces 2 corruption probes based in part on secret recordings
--former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort’s house was raided by FBI in July
--Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake has a new book that positions him as a conservative with a conscience….can he infect other Republicans?