The Kamala Harris Thread

What has Kamala done re immigration?  Never named Czar --
 

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White House   July 29, 2021

FACT SHEET: Strategy to Address the Root Causes of Migration in Central America

On February 2, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order that called for the development of a Root Causes Strategy.

Since March, Vice President Kamala Harris has been leading the Administration's diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.  She has worked with bilateral, multilateral, and private sector partners, as well as civil society leaders, to help people from the region find hope at home.  This complements work done throughout the U.S. government over the last six months to learn lessons from prior efforts and to consult with a wide range of stakeholders to inform the development of this strategy.

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is releasing the Root Causes Strategy..

The Strategy is organized into five pillars:

• Pillar I:  Addressing economic insecurity and inequality;
• Pillar II:  Combating corruption, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing the rule of law;
• Pillar III:  Promoting respect for human rights, labor rights, and free press;
• Pillar IV:  Countering and preventing violence, extortion, and other crimes perpetrated by criminal gangs, trafficking networks, and other organized criminal organizations; and
• Pillar V:  Combating sexual, gender-based, and domestic violence.   

The Vice President and the Administration have already taken action – notable accomplishments include:

Addressing immediate humanitarian needs including vaccines.  On April 26, Vice President Harris announced $310 million in urgent relief to help address the acute factors of migration, including from hurricanes, the pandemic, and drought caused by climate change.  To date, we have allocated over $250 million of the total funds, reaching over two million people.  We also provided over 10 million COVID vaccine doses to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Countering corruption and democratic backsliding.  Vice President Harris has been direct and unwavering in highlighting the problems of corruption, the need for reforms, and the vital importance of demonstrating commitment to the rule of law, judicial independence, human rights, and a strong civil society—including during her bilateral meeting in Guatemala.  Working with the Department of Justice, the Vice President launched an Anticorruption Task Force that will include U.S. prosecutors and law enforcement experts to investigate and prosecute corruption cases with a nexus in the United States and the region. 

Addressing security concerns of mutual interest.  Vice President Harris launched Anti-Migrant Smuggling Task Forces in both Mexico and Guatemala and secured commitments to increase border enforcement.  She reached an agreement with the Mexican government to restart the high-level dialogue focused on the trafficking of weapons and drugs.

Internationalizing our efforts.  The Vice President has said, "The United States cannot do this work alone.”  She has reached out to international partners to highlight the need for increased support for Central America and secured commitments from a number of countries.  She successfully encouraged the United Nations to develop a regional Humanitarian Response Plan to mobilize international donor support for the region. 

Working with the private sector.  On May 27, Vice President Harris launched a Call to Action for the private sector to make new commitments in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to expand economic opportunities.  The initial group of 12 companies and organizations committed to helping over 13 million people, offered to provide $750 million in resources, and established a non-profit organization to support economic   Since the launch, over 150 companies and organizations have expressed interest in joining the Call to Action

 

She has THE LOOK and deals with heckler at Detroit rally

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/07/politics/video/kamala-harris-hecklers-interrupts-speech-digvid

Washington Post 8/8/24

Here's a look at questions about Tim Walz's military record

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...According to the Nebraska Army National Guard, Walz enlisted in April 1981 — just two days after his 17th birthday — and entered service as an infantryman, completing a 12-week Army infantry basic training course before graduating from high school.

While attending the University of Houston in 1985, he was reclassified as a field artillery cannoneer as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, later serving as an instructor with the Arkansas Army National Guard.

In 1987, Walz returned to Nebraska's Guard detachment, continuing field artillery assignments while he completed a college degree. By 1996, he transferred to the Minnesota Army National Guard. In 2003, he deployed to Italy in a support position of active military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. But he was not in a combat zone himself.

"Do not pretend to be something that you're not,” Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance said Wednesday as he campaigned in Michigan. "I'd be ashamed if I was saying that I lied about my military service like you did.”

Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating high school, serving four years as a combat correspondent, a type of military journalist, and deploying to Iraq in that capacity in 2005....

Harris' campaign has referred to Walz as a "retired Command Sergeant Major,” one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier. He did in fact achieve that rank, but personnel files show he was reduced in rank months after retiring. That left him as a master sergeant for benefits purposes.

Minnesota National Guard officials have said that Walz retired before completing coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, along with other requirements associated with his promotion....

 

24 years service versus four years...

Wanted to see what a  US Army Cannon Crewmember does these days

Duties of Cannon Crewmembers (13B MOS)

A cannon crewmember is an important contributor to the Army's success on the battlefield. Artillery teams are used to support infantry and tank units in combat, but also have responsibilities during peacetime. Cannon crewmembers work on cannons known as howitzers, a heavy artillery machine piece with single-barrel firing capability.

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Cannon crewmembers perform the following duties:

• Operate high technology cannon artillery weapon systems
• Load and fire howitzers
• Set fuses and charges on a variety of munitions, including high explosive artillery rounds, laser-guided projectiles, scatterable mines, and rocket assisted projectiles
• Use computer-generated fire direction data to set elevation of cannon tubes for loading and firing
• Employ rifles, machine guns, grenades and rocket launchers in offensive and defensive operations
• Drive and operate heavy and light wheeled trucks and tracked vehicles
• Transport and manage artillery ammunition
• Participate in reconnaissance operations to include security operations and position preparation
• Operate in reduced visibility environments with infrared and starlight enhancing night vision devices and other equipment
• Coordinate movements into position
• Camouflage position areas
• Communicate using voice and digital wire and radio equipment
• Use critical combat survival skills to operate in a hostile environment
• Maintain operational readiness of vehicles and equipment
• Supervise handling, transportation, accountability, and distribution of ammunition
• Assist section chief in supervision of howitzer operations, maintenance, and training
• Lay weapons for direction, conducting bore sighting and basic periodic tests
• Supervise the operation, loading, and maintenance of the Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle

What does a Marine Corps Combat Correspondent Do?

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A Marine Corps Combat Correspondent (MOS 4341) collects news and feature information for a variety of media platforms.

The media platforms include newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and websites.

The coverage is intended for both internal military release as well as external release to the broader American media.

Combat Correspondents help deliver a unique perspective about life inside the Marine Corps.

The job is very comparable to the role of a civilian journalist only that you receive your paycheck from the Marines and also live a military lifestyle.

Combat Correspondents (MOS 4341) also:

• Respond to queries from the civilian media.
• Perform media liaison functions during operations.
• Conduct community relations programs.
• Produce print and photographic materials.
• Edit/Produce command newspapers and magazines.
• Assist in the management and production of Marine Corps websites.