The snowfall continues – International reaction to the coup in Myanmar – Kim Jong-Un clings to his nuclear arsenal – What has become of Kim Jong-Un’s wife? – The Democrats begin to exert their power – Evening statistics
Although I was not out much today I cannot complain about lack of opportunities to exercise. The mingled snow, ice, and rain coated my driveway and walkways with a thin sheet of ice. Using a shovel alone was not very effective; I had to resort to a paint scraper to loosen the ice. Since the blade of a paint scraper is about 3 inches, clearing the entirety of the driveway was rather a slow process. There was a little water running underneath the surface of the ice, so it was not as if I were prying it off an inch or so at a time; but bending down to apply the scraper to an area, straightening up to use the shovel, shoveling aside the ice shards pried loose, and then beginning the process over all again, section by section, took up a good hour. It was done at last, enabling me to drive in and out for various errands without hindrance. I expect that I will have to do more of the same tomorrow. The wintry mix continues to fall and it undoubtedly will freeze overnight. It is not expected to end until late tomorrow. Cities further north, such as New York, have been getting well over a foot of snow, but here the amount has been only about 2 inches so far. We may get up to 5 inches total by the end of the snowfall tomorrow, but it is unlikely.
Biden is now dealing with the first international crisis of his administration. He has called for the military group that took over the government of Myanmar to restore it to Win Myint, the president, and to Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi doesn’t have a quite unblemished reputation, having dragged her feet in condemning the oppressive treatment of Rohingya Muslims in the nation; but Myanmar was certainly moving in the direction of democracy under her guidance and she is undoubtedly much less authoritarian than the military clique that is now in control. Biden has hinted that the U.S. may restore sanctions against Myanmar if the military fails to comply. Many other countries are calling for the release of the retained leaders. Reports from Myanmar are conflicting, but the conditions there appear chaotic. Television signals have been cut across the country, as was phone and internet access in Naypyitaw, while passenger flights were grounded. Phone service in other parts of the country was also reported down, though people were still able to use the internet in many areas. Many are hastening to remove the bright red flags of Suu Kyi’s party that adorned their homes and businesses until yesterday. Very long lines formed at ATMs as people waited to take out cash, efforts that were being complicated by internet disruptions.
Ryu Hyeon-woo, the high-placed diplomat who defected from North Korea, has stated that Kim Jong-Un will never give up his nuclear arsenal, no matter how insistently the U.S. calls out for the country’s denuclearization. The stability of his regime depends on them, in his view at least. He may be willing to negotiate an arms reduction for relief from the international sanctions crippling Pyongyang’s economy, but that is the extent to which he will go.
There are odd reports, or I should more precisely say, rumors, about him yet again. Ri Sol-Ju, his wife, was last seen in public on January 25, 2020, more than a year ago. There is probably less definite information about her than about any other living spouse of a national leader. No one knows exactly when she and Kim married, nor who her relatives are, nor how many children they have, nor, most importantly, whether she has disappeared from the public view on account of the pandemic or simply because Kim has tired of her and put her aside. It is even possible that she has been executed. She would not be the first relative he has treated in that fashion if so.
The Democrats are starting to flex their muscles now that they have control of both Houses, and one of their first projects is to remove Marjorie Taylor Greene from the House Budget Committee and the Education and Labor Committee. Ms. Greene, a blandly venomous young woman, has questioned the reality of the Sandy Hook massacre, even to the extent of harassing the parents of some of the victims, has advocated violence against Nancy Pelosi, and has propagated the notion that wealthy Jewish Rothschild family started the worst of the California wildfires by firing a powerful laser at the state from outer space. The Democrats have given the GOP an ultimatum: either the GOP removes her from the committees, or the Democrats themselves will attend to the matter by setting up a vote in the chambers this coming Wednesday. Neither alternative is very appealing to the GOP, of course. Either they will have to admit that they blundered badly by placing her on the committees in the first place, or a member of their party will be removed from the committees in an even more public manner if they fail do so themselves. Mitch McConnell’s “long game” does not appear to be playing out very well.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 103,912,620; # of deaths worldwide: 2,246,842; # of cases U.S.: 26,905,284; # of deaths; U.S.: 454,104.