Good morning. Here’s your Daily Situational Awareness for Wednesday, 09 March 2022. You can receive this daily briefing by signing up at https://forwardobserver.com/daily-sa
TODAY’S BRIEFING:
- Proud Boys leader arrested on conspiracy charges
- China welcomes Russia to payment system
- Cartel incomes up at southern border
- IRS to address tax return backlog
- DC truck protesters expand demands
- Hazards Warning
UPGRADE TO EARLY WARNING AND GET THESE BRIEFINGS:
- Russia-NATO SITREP: Ukraine Blinks, Poland Wants U.S. Aircraft, Biden Suspends Russian Oil Imports
- Indo-Pacific SITREP: China’s Strategic Breakout of Nuclear Forces
- Far Left Activity Rollup & Outlook
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
PROUD BOYS LEADER ARRESTED ON CONSPIRACY CHARGES: The Justice Department (DOJ) announced the arrest of Proud Boys leader Henry Tarrio on conspiracy, obstruction, and destruction of government property charges. The DOJ announcement focuses on a “special chapter of the Proud Boys known as the ‘Ministry of Self Defense’” and Tarrio’s direction of the group’s activities during the 6 Jan. Capitol Hill protest. According to the DOJ, “more than 775 individuals have been arrested…including over than 245 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.” Notably, Tarrio was not in the Capitol during the breach and protest. (Analyst Comment: The Justice Department’s prosecutions of high-profile political activists is similar to U.S. strategy in counterterrorism operations. By “taking out” national and regional leadership, the DOJ is attempting to degrade political activist groups’ effectiveness. This may be counterproductive as die-hards are likely to remain while potentially moderating members could leave. A self-reinforcing cycle of radicalization begins when the groups know the national government is targeting their members. – D.M.)
CHINA WELCOMES RUSSIA TO PAYMENT SYSTEM: In a not altogether surprising move, Chinese state-backed media announced that Beijing invited Russian banks to settle international trade transactions in China’s Renminbi. Additionally, China will not participate in the western sanctions regime against Russia, and it intends to purchase Russian oil and gas in Renminbi. Chinese media outlets added that China-Russia bilateral trade will increase using China’s Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) and Russia’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS) even though western governments have banned Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system. (AC: This financial lifeline to Russia will likely decrease the impact of western sanctions on Russian banks that have been levied in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As the transition to the new payment system takes hold, anticipate a recovery of the Russian ruble from its record lows of last week. For China, this is a chance to further internationalize its currency in world markets. – M.M.)
CARTEL INCOMES UP AT SOUTHERN BORDER: According to Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-NY), cartels operating along the southern border are making an estimated $24 million per week through human trafficking operations. That’s up from $11 million per week a year ago. So far, Border Patrol has captured individuals from 82 countries, including some who are on the terror watchlist, according to Jacobs. (AC: Cartels likely use the funds to purchase better equipment, weapons, and fund operations. Increased human trafficking proceeds could fund the increasingly sophisticated use of drone technology. Immigration remains an effective gray zone tactic to disrupt U.S. authorities and disrupt the decision-making process of senior administration officials. – D.M.)
CONGRESS LAUNCHES INQUIRY INTO SECRET DHS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM: According to Senator Wyden, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a surveillance program that collects records of money transfers greater than $500 to and from Mexico. In a letter sent to DHS, the secret bulk surveillance program has collected millions of records of Americans without a warrant. The program’s origins date back to at least 2010. In 2014 a nonprofit organization called Transaction Record Analysis Center (TRAC) started storing the data and sharing it with law enforcement. (AC: Domestic surveillance programs on financial traffic erode waning government trust from the public. Government overreach concerns become solidified when the government is perceived to work around privacy protections for citizens. Congressional oversight provides little confidence with Senator Wyden’s claims that Congress only recently became aware of the 12-year program’s existence. – D.F.)
DC TRUCK PROTESTERS EXPAND DEMANDS: U.S. trucking protests started this week in Washington D.C. with protesters driving on the Capital Beltway. The convoy is reported to have tripled in size yesterday, with approximately 3,000 vehicles driving around D.C. The movement has led to disruptive traffic on the beltway but has not resulted in blockades like those in Canada. Protest leaders met with Republican Congressional members yesterday and have been reported to outline the movement demands. Official demands call for an end to covid mandates and the national emergency declaration. (AC: Protester demands to cover larger administration agenda items decreases the likelihood of success while Democratic leadership controls Congress and the White House. Some federal and state mandates already have scheduled end dates which undermine public support for the movement. The Administration is unlikely to accelerate lifting mandates with the current impact of the protest movement. – D.F.)
HAZARDS WARNING
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