[guest post by Dana]

Coincidentally – or not coincidentally – North Korea seems to be experiencing widespread internet outages today:

It’s not yet known whether the United States is responsible for the downtime. But according to Dyn Research — which earlier this year bought the respected network analysis firm Renesys — North Korea’s Internet is currently showing unusual amounts of instability.

Further:

“I haven’t seen such a steady beat of routing instability and outages in KP before,” said Doug Madory, director of Internet analysis at Dyn Research. “Usually there are isolated blips, not continuous connectivity problems. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are absorbing some sort of attack presently.”

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

President Obama:

To those who oppose the steps I’m announcing today, let me say that I respect your passion and share your commitment to liberty and democracy. The question is how we uphold that commitment. I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result. Moreover, it does not serve America’s interests, or the Cuban people, to try to push Cuba toward collapse. Even if that worked — and it hasn’t for 50 years — we know from hard-earned experience that countries are more likely to enjoy lasting transformation if their people are not subjected to chaos. We are calling on Cuba to unleash the potential of 11 million Cubans by ending unnecessary restrictions on their political, social, and economic activities. In that spirit, we should not allow U.S. sanctions to add to the burden of Cuban citizens that we seek to help.

Raul Castro:

“In the same way that we have never demanded that the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for ours,” the president said in a televised speech.

Of course the president would never be honest about what’s really at play: closing Guantanamo:

I think Obama restored relations with Cuba because he wants to close Guantanamo. This way he can leave the prisoners in Cuba without violating US laws that prevent him from returning the dangerous prisoners to their home nations. Instead, he can leave them in Cuba and let the Castro regime deport them. –DRJ

As President Obama told Candy Crowley last night regarding Guantanamo:

“I’m going to be doing everything I can to close it,” Obama said in an interview with CNN’s Candy Crowley that aired Sunday on “State of the Union.”

“It is something that continues to inspire jihadists and extremists around the world, the fact that these folks are being held,” Obama said. “It is contrary to our values.”

Until then, the president can continue to release prisoners:

Those released this year included five Taliban to temporary custody in Qatar in exchange for the release of POW Bowe Bergdahl, the year’s most controversial release; six Arabs to Uruguay, the first to South America in the history of the detention center; the first former forever prisoner whose status was downgraded by a parole board and returned to his native Kuwait; and five men resettled in Europe.

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

A much needed humor break comes with JibJab’s annual look back at the asstounding year that was!

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

President George W. Bush, continuing to enjoy his post-presidency years with charitable works, played Santa Claus last week at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Natalie Smith, a parent who had lost one of her twin daughters to heart disease and whose remaining daughter was in the hospital, posted:

“Guess who just came and gave Emily a Christmas present dressed in a Santa suit with Secret Service and all?!?!?………. Pres. George Bush”

And speaking of Bush, while some might see Bush’s silence on current events as cowardice or fear of opening himself up to attack, Cass Sustein writes in Bloomberg today of Bush’s “graceful silence” in matters post-presidency:

In the domain of foreign affairs, 2014 has brought heated national debates on an impressive range of subjects: Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Syria, Ebola, immigration policy and, most recently, torture, North Korea and Cuba. One of the more remarkable features of all these discussions has been the consistent grace of President George W. Bush.

This month, Bush offered a rare comment on a public debate. Responding to the Senate’s release of the CIA torture report, he said, “We’re fortunate to have men and women who work hard at the CIA serving on our behalf. These are patriots and whatever the report says, if it diminishes their contributions to our country, it is way off base.” Note that Bush paid tribute to the employees of the CIA — and pointedly declined to take a shot at the Barack Obama administration.

No one doubts that, on some important questions, Bush is in profound disagreement with his successor. Nonetheless, he has maintained silence. In March, he explained, “I don’t think it’s good for the country to have a former president undermine a current president; I think it’s bad for the presidency for that matter.”

To many Republicans, that crisp explanation is not convincing. But Bush has made an honorable calculation.

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

Instead of working to close the widening rift with NYC police officers, as well as not heeding the president’s admonition after the two police officers were killed: “…officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day…deserve our respect and gratitude every single day…. reject violence and words that harm, and turn to words that heal”, Mayor DeBlasio’s office fanned the flames by lashing out at police officers for symbolically turning their backs on the mayor before his press conference Saturday night:

“It’s unfortunate that in a time of great tragedy, some would resort to irresponsible, overheated rhetoric that angers and divides people,” de Blasio spokesman Marti Adams said in a statement following the union leaders’ remarks.

Mayor De Blasio is scheduled to speak at the Police Athletic League Luncheon this afternoon. The subject he will be addressing is strengthening the bonds between police and community.

–Dana

Update: Mayor De Blasio’s comments from today’s luncheon included requesting protesters to suspend protests as two families are preparing for funerals, and that the “attack” on the two officers was “an attack on our democracy, it was an attack on our values – it was an attack on every single New Yorker, and we have to see it as such.”

Further:

People are always struggling in a democracy to understand how they can contribute to making things better. So, I can tell you – show great respect for these two families. Show respect and support for our police. Remind people that we as citizens have an obligation to join in protecting our police just as they protect us. We’ve seen instances where there was information that might have saved lives. And I said this several days ago, before this tragedy – I said to those who are protesting, to people who are peaceful, and believe in a democratic society, people of good will – if they saw any in their midst who intended to do violence against police, against their fellow citizens, against property, the protesters should be the first to turn in those bad actors to the police. The protestors should join with the police in solidarity to keep the peace and uphold the values of our democracy. Well I say equally, if anyone of bad intent threatens a police officer – on the internet or anywhere else – anyone who hears such a threat must deliver that information immediately to the NYPD, must turn that individual in. It is all of our obligation, to take the information we have and use it, and ensure there aren’t future tragedies.

We will find a way to come together. We have before, under very trying circumstances. We, together, will find a way.