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Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 12:34 PM Apr 2020

Following the trail of the Great Facemask Heist of 2020.

I found at least three references to explain how our supply of facemasks vanished. Two of them have to do with federal approval. And I think that's why Jared Kushner was whining about the federal stockpile did not belong to the states. He knew the U.S. was shipping them abroad for their own reason.

Case Point 1: Many of us were saying early January that the U.S.'s supply of facemasks were being diverted to China. We knew this as customers seeking facemasks from our hardware stores and were told that a Chinese man came and bought their entire stock. And now we have the definitive proof, posted right here on DU:

Billions of face masks sent to China during Australian bushfire crisis

"Employees of Chinese state-owned companies were directed to purchase whatever they could find in the way of masks and protective clothing to send back home in a massive humanitarian effort."

"Between January 24 and February 29, the National Customs in China inspected and released 2.46 billion pieces of epidemic prevention and control materials, including 2.02 billion masks and 25.38 million items of protective clothing. The official report also states the value of these supplies was worth 8.2 billion yuan (approximately $2 billion)."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142462576

Case Point 2: Let's see what our government did in return. Pompeo proudly announced that the State Department aided private individuals and corporations to send 18 tons of PPE's to China. This may be in relation to the first post. They were aiding the Chinese effort.

The United States Announces Assistance To Combat the Novel Coronavirus -- February 7th.

"This week the State Department has facilitated the transportation of nearly 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies to the Chinese people, including masks, gowns, gauze, respirators, and other vital materials. These donations are a testament to the generosity of the American people.

Today, the United States government is announcing it is prepared to spend up to $100 million in existing funds to assist China and other impacted countries, both directly and through multilateral organizations, to contain and combat the novel coronavirus. This commitment – along with the hundreds of millions generously donated by the American private sector – demonstrates strong U.S. leadership in response to the outbreak."

https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-announces-assistance-to-combat-the-novel-coronavirus/


And more recently:

Case Point 3: Pence task force freezes coronavirus aid amid backlash

"Trump aides were alarmed when they learned of the exchange, and immediately put the shipment on hold while they ordered a review of U.S. aid procedures. Crossed wires would only confuse our allies, they worried, or worse—offend them. And Americans confronting a surging death toll and shortages of medical equipment back home would likely be outraged.

Vice President Mike Pence soon realized another step was needed: After a phone call asking a foreign leader’s help with key supplies, he ordered his staff to make sure the review process wasn’t holding up coronavirus-related aid to countries that were assisting the United States."

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/31/pence-task-force-coronavirus-aid-157806

Case Point 4: Need to walk the dogs and I'll post a link later, but this is the more recent bit of information that the Fed are not only competing with the States, but that they are diverting our stock to the commercial market to auction off to the states.

In SUM, this Administration has a lot of explaining to do if they are diverting our stock to China and Bangkok, and competing against the States. Trump should be impeached all over again for this.




19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Following the trail of the Great Facemask Heist of 2020. (Original Post) Baitball Blogger Apr 2020 OP
They'll find a way to blame it on Obama cyclonefence Apr 2020 #1
I'd K&R your post if I could. Ilsa Apr 2020 #3
Trump has successfully stopped follow-up questions with the cupboards were bare excuse Baitball Blogger Apr 2020 #5
K&R ismnotwasm Apr 2020 #2
yeah, explain..They'll do that right after the transcripts of Trump/Putin secret mtgs are released librechik Apr 2020 #4
are you also in favor of stopping face mask shipment stopdiggin Apr 2020 #6
I think it's obvious that the American people are screwed and we're on our own. Baitball Blogger Apr 2020 #7
which neatly evaded the question stopdiggin Apr 2020 #8
That's crazy logic on your part. Baitball Blogger Apr 2020 #9
so in other words "America First" stopdiggin Apr 2020 #10
Have you forgotten that we were denied tons of medical supplies that were sent Baitball Blogger Apr 2020 #12
"We Take Care 'A Our Own" stopdiggin Apr 2020 #13
We don't understand each other's position at all. Baitball Blogger Apr 2020 #14
you're still building a wall stopdiggin Apr 2020 #16
You're not answering my question because you know your logic is flawed Baitball Blogger Apr 2020 #17
I'm not sure where you came up with that stopdiggin Apr 2020 #18
Being a member of a minority group, I disagree with you completely. Baitball Blogger Apr 2020 #19
K&R spanone Apr 2020 #11
Grrrr! smirkymonkey Apr 2020 #15

cyclonefence

(4,483 posts)
1. They'll find a way to blame it on Obama
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 12:39 PM
Apr 2020

I've been wondering about this. He's been in office three years, so obviously this was happening on Trump's watch. He's acting all indignant now, but what happens while he's president is ipso facto his responsibility, according to his taking credit for Obama's economic surge.

Ilsa

(61,675 posts)
3. I'd K&R your post if I could.
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 12:57 PM
Apr 2020

He can't blame a low stockpile, even if true, on Obama. He's been president for three years and had plenty of time to fix it, if true. (He lies about everything else, so why would we believe his claim that the stockpile was low?)

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
5. Trump has successfully stopped follow-up questions with the cupboards were bare excuse
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 02:04 PM
Apr 2020

by bringing up the lack of ammunition after Obama's term. But nobody follows up and asks him, well, you took care of the ammunition deficit in three years. What did you do about the facemasks in the same time?

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
7. I think it's obvious that the American people are screwed and we're on our own.
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 04:41 PM
Apr 2020

But, I will fight for those on our front lines that are fighting this virus in the hospitals and medical centers. Trump and his Administration are the ones who condemned them.

stopdiggin

(11,092 posts)
8. which neatly evaded the question
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 10:01 PM
Apr 2020

So Trump's "America First" really does kind of describe some of us here on DU?
Thanks.
-- -- --

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
9. That's crazy logic on your part.
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 10:19 PM
Apr 2020

We can't help others if we are in state of decline. It's the whole premise behind putting on your own oxygen masks before putting on the masks of your children. Once your medical and health sector dies, the only thing that will regulate a country is military force.

stopdiggin

(11,092 posts)
10. so in other words "America First"
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 10:29 PM
Apr 2020

and screw the rest of the world. Let 'em look out for themselves!
And of course that'll never come back around ...
My .. how we have shrunk.
-- --

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
12. Have you forgotten that we were denied tons of medical supplies that were sent
Sat Apr 4, 2020, 10:47 PM
Apr 2020

to other countries? So much so that we are now in a state of crisis. Is that the kind of charity you want to see from us?

Are you ignoring that fact? There's nothing about putting us first with that decision. And I'm sure Trump didn't do it for charitable reasons. But now you have my curiosity. Are you saying that you're okay with seeing so many of our medical and health specialists dying because we can't provide them what they need with PPS? Because that's the only logical path that your statements lead to.

stopdiggin

(11,092 posts)
13. "We Take Care 'A Our Own"
Sun Apr 5, 2020, 12:24 AM
Apr 2020

it has such a enlightened humanitarian ring to it. So noble. All of our best qualities ..
Makes me so proud ..
-- --

(I started out asking whether you thought we should forbid shipment of masks to our neighbor to the north. You ducked the question. I think we understand one another well enough.)

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
14. We don't understand each other's position at all.
Sun Apr 5, 2020, 02:51 AM
Apr 2020

You're just trying to frame my answer to meet your agenda.

Here's what I'm trying to determine. What percentage of our medical and hospital workers would you find acceptable to leave unprotected, in order to meet your standards of a humanitarian country? Give me a percentage. Because it seems to me that you aren't taking into account that we have already ceded N95 facemasks for the general population of the U.S. In other words, more than 300,000 million Americans will not be able to purchase them. Period. Instead, we're taking action now to make our own cloth facemasks, because we know that the greatest need is in our hospitals and for our first responders.

Do you understand the point that the supply we had on hand for humanitarian aid was wiped out in the first three months of this year? That "humanitarian" effort that you wanted us to express was made in January, February and March with heavy shipments of PPS to other countries. Not only did the State Department aid private individuals to take 18 tons of PPS to China around February 7th, but they also sat on their hands as Chinese Nationals came into the country to buy out whatever was hanging around our stores. That's what my original post documented.

As for answering your initial question, I thought it was a moot (American moot) question because I thought it was obvious that the general population in America was going to have to do without facemasks. Thus, the sacrifice has been made. A reasonable person would have understood that. If you were seeking an objective debate, you would concede to that fact. But you aren't. So back to my original question: How many medical and hospital workers would you find acceptable to leave unprotected to meet your standards of a humanitarian country? Because we're not talking about giving up a supply for the 300,000+ million Americans in the general population. That supply doesn't exist. We're talking about the supply for our hospitals and medical workers.

I am going to throw in a second question. I assume you're knowledgeable about Canada, so would you tell me, are Canadians making their own facemasks? If not, are you demanding that we have to give up the masks for our medical and hospital workers in order to supply them?

stopdiggin

(11,092 posts)
16. you're still building a wall
Sun Apr 5, 2020, 03:38 PM
Apr 2020

(or perhaps it's a moat? like back in the good old days?) around "us" and "our stuff."

You're point of view is informed and predicated almost entirely on "us vs them." This is the very essence of "America First." Are you perhaps a fan of trade wars too? Perhaps the idea of cooperation and a common enemy will arise in a few more generations. One can always hope.

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
17. You're not answering my question because you know your logic is flawed
Sun Apr 5, 2020, 04:04 PM
Apr 2020

"America first" is misused by you. It refers to Trump's political style that mirrors White Supremacists, creating divisions within our own country to intentionally target and discriminate and deny minorities and others of their Constitutional rights.

You are using is it an inappropriate, overreached manner.

stopdiggin

(11,092 posts)
18. I'm not sure where you came up with that
Sun Apr 5, 2020, 04:44 PM
Apr 2020

(rather tailored) definition of "America First?" But I have to say that I think it's fairly unique.

I believe it is safe to say most common understanding of the term, and what it refers to in philosophy and practice, would have to focus on U.S. stance and positions versus the rest of the world (opposing governments, international organizations, etc.) .. and actually very little or nothing to do with internal divisions.

But I will say that you have a fairly consistent (and inward turning) point of view.

Baitball Blogger

(46,574 posts)
19. Being a member of a minority group, I disagree with you completely.
Sun Apr 5, 2020, 05:19 PM
Apr 2020

Perhaps you should find a term that is more appropriate for your purpose?

Leadership and management are very complex qualities to nail. It goes wrong when someone takes it the Lord of the Flies direction, as Trump does. But you'll also end up seeing your own children die or go hungry if you're a Flower Child in the age of coronavirus.

There's a balance, and as anyone who has taken a course on leadership knows, you must protect essential services in your country, like the health and medical fields, or it goes apocalyptic very quickly.

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