March 5, 2014 at 1:46 P.M. As the events in Eukraine continue to escalate, it may be useful to recall U.S. pronouncements in similar situations in the past where different nations have been involved in identical conflicts.
The U.S., under anti-Communist President Ronald Reagan, agreed with the U.K.'s military effort to remove Argentinian forces from the Malvinas/Falklands islands, despite the Monroe Doctrine. Britain claimed to be "protecting" thousands of British/English-speaking island dwellers loyal to British institutions.
Russia today claims to be protecting millions of ethnic Russians in Crimea (remember the charge of the Light Brigade?) in its current military efforts to preserve the duly-elected Eukrainian government that is friendly to Russia.
As regards interference with the domestic affairs of Eukraine: The BBC reported this morning that Mr. Kerry declared $1 BILLION in aid to Eukraine's "opposition forces" in addition to the $140 MILLION spent by something called "The Pro Democracy Front" (CIA?) in Eukraine before the so-called "spontaneous" uprising.
Is this not U.S. interference with domestic politics in Eukraine? Is the U.S. also involved in Venezuela's uprising in support of alleged CIA operative Leopoldo Lopez against the Bolivarian revolution now led by Nicholas Maduro?
Concerning the legality of the Russian involvement in Eukraine, the issue is this: Is the only legitimate government in Eukraine the Kiev or Russian-friendly government elected by the people prior to these events?
If so, if it is admitted that there is a danger to Russian-speaking Eukrainians from the Right-wing fringe groups in that country seeking to seize power in Kiev, which seems to have happened, then Mr. Putin may be correct that he is justified in taking this military action. If any of these elements is missing, then the U.S. interpretation of applicable provisions of international law is correct.
Whether the U.S. will receive the cooperation of Europe for anti-Russia sanctions, after disclosures of NSA spying and contempt by Washington for European sovereignty, is doubtful.
It is likely that Russia will withdraw from Eukraine in a month or so, after leaving a small security force behind to ensure the "integrity" of the local government, while keeping Western powers OUT of Crimea and ensuring Russia's access to the Black Sea.
Shawn Boburg, "Feds Target Ex-Christie Adviser: Stepien's lawyer sees reason to defy legislative subpoena," The Record, March 4, 2014, p. A-1. (Federal probe into Christie's former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, is part of Democrat Justice Department's all-out efforts against Mr. Christie. This may be payback for Christie's anticorruption efforts focusing on the Orthodox Jewish community and the adventures of Solomon Dwek.)
Michael Phillips, "Christie Slow to Fill Legal Vacancies," The Record, March 4, 2014, p. A-1. (No appointments for empty judgeships, prosecutors' jobs, assistant attorney general positions -- everything is frozen pending the resolution of New Jersey's political warfare.)
Abbott-Koloff, "Ethics Complaint Filed Against P.A.'s Chairman," The Record, March 4, 2014, p. A-6. (An ethics complaint will be filed against former New Jersey Bar Association Ethics Committee member, David Samson, Esq., who has been criticized for using his public position -- like Senator Bob Menendez -- to benefit himself financially. Terry Tuchin may "belong" to Mr. Samson and other prominent attorneys making use of his "services" to obtain information from helpless witnesses placed under hypnosis or drugged into an semi-conscious state. Mr. Tuchin claimed to be a former Mossad and CIA operative. "Herbert Klitzner, Esq.'s Greed and New Jersey's Hypocrisy.")
Kate Zernike, [Barbara Buono?] "U.S. Looking Closely at Christie Aides, Papers Show," The New York Times, March 4, 2014, p. A17. (Democrat Justice Department hopes to get Christie out of the presidential race while ignoring allegations against Senator Menendez.)
"County Trust Funds: Full Accounting Needed of All Money," (Editorial) The Record, March 4, 2014, p. A-8. (Moneys slipped into public trust accounts -- over $75 MILLION in Bergen County and comparable numbers in Hudson and Essex -- allow politicians to make ostensibly "justifiable" disbursals to "friends" who will kickback under the table to officials. Some of the figures, including $3.3 MILLION in one instance and $2,800 for Bergen Pines Hospital that no longer exists, are obvious thefts. Lawyers involved in these scams are probably on the local ethics committee. "New Jersey Lawyers' Ethics Farce.")
Richard Cowen, "Judge is Facing Ouster Tonight: African-Americans Plan Protest," The Record, March 4, 2014, p. L-1. (Attempts to control courts -- by interfering with the judiciary through removal of popular judges -- seem to meet with community resistance. Chief Justice Rabner is indifferent to these invasions of the judicial province, perhaps after being bribed, since none of the judges to be removed are members of his Synagogue.)
Karen Sudol, "Questions Over Taking the Fifth in GWB Case: Should Protection Cover Documents?," The Record, March 4, 2014, p. A-1. (A number of prominent members of the current administration in Trenton, including lawyers, have invoked the 5th Amendment in order NOT to cooperate with probes to the indifference of the OAE: "New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System" and "John McGill, Esq., the OAE, and New Jersey Corruption.")
Ellen Nakashima, "NSA Employee Tied to Snowden Scandal Quits," The Record, March 4, 2014, p. A-7. (NSA upheaval may be related to CIA revolution over Congressional probe of lying and covering-up reports on torture. Is the OAE still lying and covering-up facts in my matters? "New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System.")
"Derailed in Hoboken: Well-Connected Lobbyist Pushed For Station," (Editorial) The Record, March 4, 2014, p. A-18. (LORI GRIFFA, ESQ., lobbyist -- and at one time -- lawyer at the notorious and now clearly corrupt Salmon and Wolf law firm, pushed Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer for a rail project that would have benefited her former firm, Mr. Samson, Mr. Christie's contributors represented by that firm, and herself. No conflict of interest, OAE? "New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics" and "Sexual Favors For New Jersey Judges.")
Shawn Boburg, "New PA Conflict Issue Emerges: NJ Transit Got $1 Dollar Lease While a Client of Samson's Law Firm," The Record, February 19, 2014, p. A-1. (David Samson facing possible legal ethics charges, separately, over whether clients of his law firm benefited from his positions of public trust. Connections between Mr. Samson and Israeli interests cannot be confirmed at this time. "Terry Tuchin, Diana Lisa Riccioli, and New Jersey's Agency of Torture.")
Shawn Boburg, "PA Lawyer to Alter Vote by Chairman: Says Samson Intended to Abstain on Transit Lease," The Record, February 20, 2014, p. A-1. (Mr. Samson, as Chairman of the PA was clearly pushing for a "sweetheart" deal to benefit N.J. Transit that is represented by his law firm in clear violation of conflict of interest rules, allegedly, applicable to all lawyers in the Garden State, but really only used against those who fail to pay-off the OAE, in one way or another. You are not getting any bribes from me, Mr. Rabner. "Have you no shame, Mr. Rabner?")
Russ Buettner, "In Deals, Benefits For Christie and Appointee," The New York Times, March 4, 2014, p A1.
"A comprehensive examination of Mr. Samson's dealings with Governor Christie and his administration, both inside the Port Authority and out, shows the extent to which their ambitions and successes became entwined. Mr. Samson and his law firm benefitted financially. Mr. Christie benefitted politically. And each enhanced the other's stature as their relationship deepened in ways that were not apparent at the time."
Much of the corruption in New Jersey is caused by a "you-scratch-my-back-I-scratch-yours" mentality among politically-connected lawyers and the corrupt politicians who dish out the gravy to these lawyers in exchange for under-the-table gratitude. ("New Jersey Lawyers' Ethics Farce" and "New Jersey's Politically-Connected Lawyers On the Tit.")
An unholy alliance among Right-wing Israeli-American Jewish interests -- who are influential in the media, formerly known as "neo-conservatives" -- and Miami's arch-Conservative Cuban-Americans, has produced such horrors as the spreading influence of the Koch brothers and Senators Marco Rubio as well as Ted Cruz. Bob Menendez walks the high wire between these Right-wingers and liberals in his state as a so-called Jersey Machine "Democrat." ("Cubanazos Pose a Threat to National Security" and "Miami's Cubanoids Protest Against Peace.")
Senator Bob likes to make use of Latina lesbian lawyers -- Nydia Hernandez, Lilian Munoz (whose sexual-orientation will come as news to her husband, perhaps), Mary Marban, Estela De La Cruz, the latter is a former judge and, soon, an ex-lawyer -- because he thought they were more "obedient" than male lawyers and less likely to seek higher office themselves, according to former friends of the Senator. What do you say, Diana Lisa Riccioli? ("Menendez Consorts With Underage Prostitutes" and "Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks" then "Wedding Bells Ring For Menendez!")
Mr. Christie has entered into a political "bromance" with David Samson, who has done very well and should have sent Governor Christie flowers and chocolates (among other things) for Valentine's Day:
"Perhaps the clearest example of this symbiosis, [conflict of interest?] previously unreported came last April, when Mr. Samson presided as the Port Authority awarded two bridge construction contracts worth a total of $2.8 BILLION." ("Cement is Gold.")
Mr. Samson's clients were to benefit from this decision even though the Chairman was "presiding" ostensibly on behalf of the bi-state agency together with the people of New York and New Jersey. Mr. Samson should have recused himself from this vote. ("What did you know, Mr. Rabner, and when did you know it?")
This was precisely the cozy relationship between lawyers and politicians that offended Mr. Christie when the Decotiis firm allowed for much of the graft indulged in by Mr. McGreevey and other Democrats who "served" as governors of New Jersey. ("Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics.")
Mr. Christie's indignation at New Jersey's "culture of corruption" (to use Governor Christie's phrase) is selective and does not extend to his G.O.P. friends doing very nicely "on the government tit." ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")
Republicans are getting richer from Garden State public expenditures today. If these allegations against Mr. Samson are accurate, they should certainly preclude Mr. Christie from being President of the United States of America. The spoils are much greater in the White House as well as the opportunities for "enrichment" for friends and public officials. Mr. Christie's honesty was always his claim to fame in New Jersey. If Christie loses that issue he will be in deep trouble with voters. ("De Blasio and Christie.")
" ... one longtime client [of Mr. Samson] owns a liquid storage facility on the Bayonne Waterfront. The company is half-owned by Macquarrie Infrastructure Company, one of the contractors [to which] Mr. Samson and his fellow commissioners awarded $1.5 BILLION to repair and 'maintain' the Goethels Bridge."
"Macquarrie" is also a Wolf and Samson client today. Then more "cookies" for the boys:
"A second contract, for $1.3 BILLION was to raise the Bayonne Bridge. ... "
The money is gone and the bridge is pretty much where it has always been. Maybe they should lower the river:
"In 2007, Mr. Christie gave Mr. Samson a $10 MILLION contract to be [irony?] the monitor for [ethical] compliance for a medical implant company ..."
That medical implant company seems to be facing indictment despite Mr. Samson's "monitoring." Perhaps someone paid Mr. Samson a consulting fee to "look the other way." ("New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System" and "New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics" then "John McGill, Esq., the OAE, and New Jersey Corruption.")
Legal ethics authorities (OAE) may award Mr. Samson a certificate for the highly ethical practice of law, perhaps in exchange for another small fee:
"Mr. Samson's firm received $540,000 in lobbying fees from Honeywell [as Mr. Samson held public office.]"
There is more:
"In November, the [New Jersey] Economic Development Authority awarded Triple Five [Samson's client] tax credits worth $390 MILLION. ..."
"Triple Five" is the entity behind the Xanadu/American Dream mall which has not been built after $5 BILLION has been spent in New Jersey. ("Senator Bob Loves Xanadu!" and "Senator Bob Says 'Xanadu and You Are Perfect Together.'")
The list of pork-barrel spending and blatant theft is depressingly long and sordid. I have only listed a few of the highlights.
Attorney-based cronyism must be ended if New Jersey's legal system is to retain some semblance of credibility concerning corruption and ethics issues. ("New Jersey is the Home of the Living Dead" and, again, "Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")
I certainly cannot accept or respect pronouncements concerning my ethics or capacities from hypocrites, frauds, and incompetent thieves who happen to be prominent members of the New Jersey Bar Association and who are protected by Mr. Rabner, perhaps because they are members of his Synagogue. ("Have you no shame, Mr. Rabner?" and "Stuart Rabner and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" then "Sexual Favors For New Jersey Judges" and "New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics.")
New Jersey will remain a joke to lawyers and journalists, everywhere, unless and until something is done about this obvious and despicable fraud and corruption. ("New Jersey's Legal System is a Whore House" and "New Jersey's Feces-Covered Supreme Court.")
Legal ethics must be turned over to non-New Jersey law enforcement agencies. New Jersey's officials are too contaminated by years of corrupt practices for anything meaningful to change as long as they retain control of the ethics enforcement system.
The Samson episode and what it says about the Christie administration is much worse than any traffic jam at the GW bridge. Please deal with my matters today Mr. Christie, Chief Justice Rabner, Senator Menendez.
