(The Daily Caller News Foundation)—The Biden administration has reversed or is considering reversing several of its foreign policies to mirror those implemented under the Trump administration.
The Biden administration most recently reversed policies that allowed funding to a major United Nations agency, mirroring an approach taken by the Trump administration against the agency in 2018. A similar reversal occurred earlier in January when the Biden administration re-designated an extremist Islamic militia group as a global terrorist organization, a label that the administration had previously removed from the group in 2021.
The U.S. and a number of allied nations cut funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) after it was discovered on Friday that several of the agency’s staffers were involved in the Hamas Oct. 7 attacks against Israel. It was later revealed that over a thousand UNRWA staffers have ties to Hamas or Islamic terror groups.
The UN is taking swift action following the extremely serious allegations against several UNRWA staff. These abhorrent alleged acts must have consequences. But the humanitarian needs of the desperate populations UNRWA serves must be met – @antonioguterres https://t.co/gy7cthapRa
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) January 28, 2024
The Trump administration had cut funding for UNRWA in 2018 because it felt the agency was an “irredeemably flawed operation,” according to a State Department press release from the time. The administration was also frustrated because it had to “shoulder the very disproportionate share of the burden of UNRWA’s costs,” as the U.S. has historically been the largest financial backer of the agency.
When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, his administration quickly reversed the decision and began funding UNRWA to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year. The Biden administration criticized the Trump administration for harming the Palestinian population when it cut funding for UNRWA.
Since the start of Biden’s presidency, the U.S. has contributed over a billion dollars to UNRWA. Funding for UNRWA was ground to a halt again on Friday pending an investigation into the agency’s ties to terrorism.
The Biden administration also in January reversed its decision to remove the Houthis, an Iranian-backed terrorist group based in Yemen, from its global terrorist list. The Trump administration designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization in January 2021, but this label later was removed by the Biden administration shortly after Biden took office.
The Biden administration said it removed the Houthis from its terror lists because it was concerned about what negative humanitarian impacts the label would have on Yemen. The terrorist group ramped up its aggression both in and outside of Yemen after being removed from the list.
The Houthis continue to play a significant in ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, with the terror group carrying out attacks against commercial vessels in a key Red Sea shipping route, resulting in negative impacts on global markets.
The Biden administration returned the Houthis to its “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list in January over the group’s increasing violence and aggression in the Middle East. the same designation the group was hit with by the Trump administration in 2021.
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Today, we announced the designation of the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group. pic.twitter.com/NFYOaUrm8G
— Department of State (@StateDept) January 17, 2024
The Biden administration is now considering easing up on some restrictions for sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, The New York Times reported in December. Trump and his administration boasted during his tenure that the U.S.-Saudi relationship was strong, and one aspect of that relationship was an arms deal that involved selling billions of dollars worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
The Biden administration took a more hardline approach to Saudi Arabia, imposing restrictions on the sale of weapons to the country in 2021 over concerns about their use, according to NYT. The administration was also vocally concerned over the 2018 death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence concluded was orchestrated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Biden himself was highly critical of Saudi Arabia during the 2020 election cycle, promising to end the arms deal and make the country “the pariah that they are” when he was elected.
“I would make it very clear we were not going to in fact sell more weapons to them. … We were going to in fact make them pay the price, and make them, in fact, the pariah that they are,” Biden said during a Democratic presidential debate in 2019, noting the country had “very little social redeeming value in the present government.”
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The Biden administration is now considering loosening certain restrictions on weapons sales to the Saudis, according to NYT. The Saudi government has expressed concern to U.S. officials that it needs to be properly armed to deter threats from terror and militia groups in the Middle East region.
A formal announcement on whether the ban will be lifted has not yet been made.
The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
