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A daily brief about the world's most dangerous places from international war correspondent Chuck Holton
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Thursday Dec 20, 2018
Thursday Dec 20, 2018
Today on the Hot Zone: The US is paying Mexico 5 billion to stop immigration. Wait, what? And this year's Hurricane survivors forgotten by the media, but still picking up the pieces. We'll break it all down for you on the Hot Zone.
Hi everyone. It's December 20, 2018. I'm Chuck Holton. Thanks for joining us on this, the 10th episode of the Hot Zone. I've been very pleased by the great response we are getting on our facebook page and on youtube. And thanks to those of you who have jumped right in to support us at Patreon.com/hotzone. I mean for the price of a cup of coffee every month, we're already helping people who are being affected by the news. I'll have a report for you soon about that little honduran single mother we helped, and her sweet little girl Noely Monserrat. They're going to have a good Christmas because of you.
Twenty nine years ago today I was here in Panama for day one of the US invasion to oust Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. I devoted half of the show yesterday to telling part of that story, so if you missed it, make sure you go check out episode nine.
Now, on to the news. The news broke on Wednesday that the US is preparing a full withdrawal of all US troops in Syria. I also just did an in-depth look at the situation there on Episode 8, but this sudden announcement kind of throws a wrench in the works over there. Especially concerning is what it means for the Kurds in Iraq and Syria...because without the US there as a buffer, Turkey may feel emboldened to start attacking them, and that won't be good. I'll keep an eye on that, and am hoping to go to Syria and report on this directly next month.
Yesterday the Drudge report was running this headline which made me do a double take. It says the US is giving 4.8 billion to Mexico. Which is coincidentally about the same amount of money the Trump administration has been threatening to shut down the government over in order to secure funding for the wall. So the headline makes it look like the President caved and gave up plans to build the wall, and not only that somehow had that much money available to cut a check to Mexico. Even the AP article on the subject led with the headline: "US pledges $10.6B aid for Central America, southern Mexico."
This is the epitome of dishonest reporting. Because most people will not read any further than the headline. But it didn't take much journalisming to figure out the details of the actual story. Here it is: NO, the president didn't just cut a check for ten billion dollars of the people's treasure to Central America. No, the president didn't just throw in the towel on building the border wall.
There are a few government run-organizations that actually make money and don't cost the US taxpayer anything. Some federal law enforcement agencies, for example, bring in more money than they spend through seizures of drug money and property owned by dealers they arrest. Another agency like that is called the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, or OPIC. It's a US government agency that gives loans to US businesses that want to invest overseas in developing markets. They do this to help advance US public policy and National Security. And they actually make a profit because the businesses they help get started pay back their loans with interest. So they don't really cost the US taxpayer anything.
The pledges being reported in the news are being made through OPIC. that agency has struck a deal with the Mexican government and other central american countries to increase the number of loans and investments they will encourage in the region, to try and increase economic opportunity for central americans through the investment of US businesses. That's exactly what I've been saying is one way we can discourage people from coming to the US looking for jobs. And it won't cost the US taxpayer a dime...if anything it will make a few US taxpayers money by helping them start businesses in Central America. Hey, maybe I should ask for a loan to expand my business here!
[chuck explains his production company business in Panama]
One of my best friends here in Panama Graham Davis, came up with what I think is an even better long-term solution to help people in Latin America not have to run to the United States, but to help them right where they are.
So the headlines are really egregious in this case. The Trump administration is getting US businesses to help address the "push factors" that cause people to leave their homes and come to the US looking for opportunity. That's a smart move. And it doesn't mean giving your tax dollars to Mexico. And they are still pushing hard for funding for the wall.
Now, let's take a look at something the media has all but forgotten. This year the US was hit by two major hurricanes, first when Hurricane Florence pounded the coasts of North and South Carolina with epic rains and flooding, and a few weeks later Hurricane Michael came ashore in the Florida panhandle and all but wiped some beach communities off the map. I was there for both storms, and actually rode out Hurricane Florence with my daughter Amy at ground zero in Surf City, North Carolina. Amy thought it was a great adventure.
[amy out in the storm video]
The flooding really did a lot of damage though, and there are still people who are living in motels and shelters because their homes are unlivable. But local volunteers and businesses are donating money and goods to give these families a little bit of joy this Christmas. In Lumberton, North Carolina, community groups came together this week and threw a huge Christmas parties for 35 families who still don't have a place to live. I love seeing stuff like this. Don't you?
A couple weeks later I rushed to North Florida to report on the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. The destruction there was quite a bit worse that what we saw with Florence, because the incredible winds spawned by that storm were just unbelievable. I mean, I saw a cargo train that had been tipped on it's side by the force of the wind. How hard does the wind have to blow to flip over a train?
I spent three days flying around in a helicopter surveying the damage. There was just so much destruction, and I'm sure the people on the ground wondered how to even begin putting their lives back together. But again, it was gratifying to see so many people who gave of their own time and resources to drive into the affected areas with food, water and help. See if you ask me, this is what makes America the greatest country on earth. It's the goodness of our people. I have followed wars and disasters around the planet for fifteen years, and I've never seen any other country where so many people rush in to help people they don't even know when they are in need, even at great personal expense. But now that the media have moved on, the needs in North Florida are still there, and people need to know about it. Here's one example:
Now I spent several days with Joe Hurston during Hurricane Michael, and he's the real deal. He builds these amazing water filters at his home, then raises money so he can give them away to people in need. I love that. If you'd like to partner with Joe or find out more about his ministry, just go to airmobile.org. And if you'd like to help that man in the video, you can donate to support this podcast at patreon.com/hotzone, or paypal at hotzoneholton@gmail.com, and any money we receive before Christmas, I'll send on to Louis White the third to help his family with their ongoing recovery.
Well there's so much more we could talk about today, but we're out of time. I hope you are getting into the Christmas spirit, and what better way to do that than to help someone in need! So find somebody in your neighborhood, or like I said, donate to this podcast and we'll help some people together. Because I don't just want to make the news, I want to make the news good.
I'm Chuck Holton. See you tomorrow. Thanks for being with us on the Hot Zone.
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