Saturday, February 8, 2020

Six MONTHS In Jail -- for WHAT??!

BS"D

Six MONTHS In Jail -- for WHAT??!

The Crusade to Terrorize Girls Into Army Enlistment Escalates Dramatically


12 Shvat, 5780 °°  Feb. 7, '20 

(This update is a revised version of http://firstamendmentactivist.blogspot.com/2020/02/terrorizing-girls-into-army-spiking.html, which was circulated yesterday in the weekly email of the Coalition for Jewish Values, based in Baltimore MD.)


By Binyomin Feinberg,

FeinbergBinyomin@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~

To check for updates, on first view of this article, as well as throughout the week,  please visit https://saveHischildren.blogspot.com -

or/and see updates for month of Shvat '80:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lddXuWtrhFZxLVA4__PVS7Zo53zNRPk8Cz7nIfxSXBE

*********************
Refusenik Updates: 
*********************

LITAL BAS MIRIAM: 

1.  We've reported several times on Lital bas Miriam, a religious bas-Cohen from Tel-Aviv. She has been literally persecuted in Military Prison Four for almost four weeks, in the wake of her arrest (or ambush) at the airport on Jan. 13, '20. See:

https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2020/01/when-criminal-justice-is-truly-crimina.html


https://savehischildren.blogspot.com/2020/01/bascohen-resists-hegmonist-draft.html

http://firstamendmentactivist.blogspot.com/2020/01/when-criminal-justice-is-truly-criminal.html

http://firstamendmentactivist.blogspot.com/2020/01/from-behind-israeli-iron-curtain.html *

{* Rivka No'ah bas Yehudis is the name of the religious French immigrant girl in Prison Six.}


~~~

2.  On this past Tuesday, Feb. 4, Lital had yet another military court hearing. Chillingly, the prosecution (i.e., the Army) wanted to hit her with an extraordinarily brutal sentence. Just how long? Judging from the "compromise" that the Judge reportedly directed the prosecution to consider, the Army wanted to imprison Lital not - G-d forbid - for days, weeks, or even months -- but for YEARS!  We are informed by someone in the know that this is no ploy; the Army is apparently "out for blood."  It is our duty to ensure that it's not her blood - or that of any innocent person - that they get.

3.  An important question here is: why is the Israeli Army trying to impose such a draconian punishment on this non-violent, 26 y/o "threat to national security?"  Granted, according to the Army, Lital is long-term "draft-dodger," [sic] -- being "absent for years" from the military - in which enlistment is strictly prohibited by Jewish Law. But why a sentence so extraordinary brutal?

4.  Clearly, the extraordinary length of the desired sentence appears to be indicative of the Army motivation operative here. It's not that they're prosecuting and persecuting this young lady IN SPITE OF of her religious beliefs. In that case, they would temper their bloodlust with a veneer of token lucidity. Rather, it's precisely BECAUSE of her steadfast dedication to safeguarding her purity and her religious values that the Israeli Army is persecuting Lital. They want to break her, and terrorize all of the other girls and women standing up to the Army's antireligious crusade to force women into the immoral, exploitative military. G-d willing, that attempt will fail, and ultimately backfire.

5.  Clearly, this young lady, a daughter of Kohanim, has been branded for serving as the "Korban" to "Maitav" (the Draft Office), a sacrificial lamb, in order to strike terror into the hearts of even some of the strongest, most devoted religious girls and women avoiding the Army.

6.  That's not all. On Tuesday, the Judge directed the prosecution to strike a "compromise" with the defense. That "compromise" reportedly involves imposing a "settlement" on Lital - that requires she agree to a staggering SIX MONTHS in Military Prison, without even allowing her a chance to fight for her religious and human rights in a court.

Plea deals often make sense - for guilty people. But this is plain judicial tyranny, being employed to advance the religious persecution of an innocent Orthodox Jewess.

7.  In essence, this "compromise offer" itself is judicial blackmail: either agree to a half a year without fighting for your rights, or else face the tyranny of years in Military Prison, all without the chance to a fair fight in court (see posts above). Moreover, the litany of illicit and illegal actions of the Draft Office, and the Prison System, all provide additional clarification as to why the government is blackmailing Lital into giving up before even beginning her legal battle in earnest: they don't want all of their illegalities and corruption to be exposed to the Free World.

8.  Above all, this travesty is a clear case of the Army terrorizing an innocent religious woman for remaining steadfast in her adherence to the Torah prohibition against enlistment in the immoral, exploitative military.  If this abomination would be perpetrated anywhere else in the world, we'd call it what it is: Jew-Hatred, of the worst sort.

9.  As explained in previous posts, all of this torment struck Lital in the wake of her naively submitting to an Religiosity Interview ("Rayon Dat") over seven years ago, around the the time she finished school. At that time, the (female) Draft Officer tripped Lital up on a question about the Reading of the Torah, something from which women are generally exempt, by Jewish Law.  Apparently, under that transparent pretext, Maitav (the Draft Office) refused to provide Lital the religious exemption to which she was entitled. (See also: 

10.  However, Lital reportedly never got a conclusive picture of her final draft status. Like thousands of other girls, she never got any documentation to clarify her draft status one way or the other. Additionally, Lital was apparently misled by Border Police. Her family claims that immediately prior to her surprise-arrest at the airport in mid-January, she repeatedly checked with Israeli Border Police. They told her that she's ok to travel, without concern of her name being on the list of non-exempted girls. When she arrived at the airport, they arrested her, to the shock of her parents.

Did Israeli Border Police intentionally give Lital misinformation to ambush her? If so, that would explain why the Army consistently refuses to comply with the government requirement that the Army notify the girls shortly after they submit their religiosity certification.  This way, they can entrap girls anytime the opportunity presents itself, and then use the threat of extended incarceration in the brutal military prison environment as blackmail - to force religious girls into the Army, all in flagrant violation of the Torah.

11.  Lital's next hearing is set to be held this coming Monday, Feb. 10 (Parshas Yisro). Prior to that, Lital is expected to make a THIRD visit to an Army officer who could potentially help arrange for a military-service exemption.  The previous two visits failed to help her, however. It's quite apparent that they're all playing games, with her life on the line.

12.  In addition, it was reported that her right of communication (already severely limited) has been [illegally] impeded by the prison authorities, on multiple occasions. How can Lital possibly ensure a semblance of a fair hearing and a proper arrangement of an exemption - especially when the stakes are so monumental - without the ability to communicate with whomever she needs to? 

13.  This barbaric, anti-Jewish abuse of an innocent young lady cannot be allowed to pass quietly. For instance, Gedolim in the past had helped organize womens' demonstrations against the government, over the drafting of girls.  It is so much more necessary, and so much more technically feasible nowadays.

~~~

14.  As of approximately two weeks ago, there were an estimated TWENTY girls and women imprisoned in Military Prison Four alone, in addition to all of those languishing in Prison Six (where Refuseniks are sometimes intentionally tormented by exposure to the winter cold without sufficient clothing). True, not every imprisoned girl is necessarily in jail for refusing to serve in the Army. There may be some incarcerated for other reasons. But, regardless, the Israeli government has no right to enlist females; therefore they has no right to impose Army regimen on them. All the more so, they have no right to impose military incarceration.

15.  Ta'i ["Ta-ee"] bas Oshrah has been imprisoned in Military Prison Six in the North for at least a week for her refusal to enlist in the Army.

16.  Another girl, Mai, was reportedly just released from Military Prison Four several days ago, B"H.

17.  Another religious girl, Tal-Yah bas Rus /Liz, continues to languish in Military Prison Four, reportedly enduring an insane 33-day sentence, for her refusal to serve in the Army. So far, she's been suffering there for about SEVEN weeks total.

18.  Another religious girl, an immigrant from France, Rivka No'a bas Yehudis, who has been incarcerated for over TWO MONTHS in Military Prison Six,  was notified that she will get an exemption from Army service, BE"H. However, despite that exemption, they insist on keeping her imprisoned until she completes the 12 day punitive sentence handed up last Thursday.
~~~

19.  One of the outstanding questions here is:

Where are the ostensibly rightwing and religious Knesset members? Even just prior to a high-stakes election (a third consecutive election at that), they cannot muster the self-interest-impelled gumption to raise a massive (or even a minor) alarm over these blatant and unrelenting evils, assaults against Jewish girls that threaten the very future of the Jewish People?

20. Another is: Is this barbaric anti-religious persecution of righteous Jewish women the price of religious "representatives" sitting in the Knesset?

~~~
21.  Also see:

CREEP STATE:  Sexual Exploitation - Via Escalation of Religiosity-Interrogations

http://firstamendmentactivist.blogspot.com/2020/02/creep-state.html

Impeachment witnesses ousted amid fears of Trump revenge campaign

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/07/donald-trump-pressure-impeachment-witness-alexander-vindman-111997

Sondland, the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union — "effective immediately," the ambassador noted in a statement. Hours earlier, the White House escorted out Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine policy officer on the National Security Counsel — along with his twin brother Yevgeny, who was not an impeachment witness.


The succession of personnel moves came amid a promise of "payback" by White House officials against those who testified or played a role in the impeachment of the president. Trump has spent the two days since his acquittal by the Senate railing against his perceived enemies. He slammed Sens. Mitt Romney and Joe Manchin earlier Friday for their votes to convict him, and he retweeted calls by his allies to exact revenge on his opponents, including the Democratic lawmakers who led the drive against him.

After voting to acquit Trump, some GOP senators said they believed Trump would be chastened and exercise caution in the future — a notion he quickly refuted, insisting that he had acted "perfectly" in every respect. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of those lawmakers, said she would oppose any retaliation against witnesses who cooperated with the House.

Trump defends firing of key impeachment witness Vindman

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/08/politics/trump-alexander-vindman-firing-ukraine-impeachment/index.html

 President Donald Trump on Saturday defended the firing of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council.
The President complained about news coverage of the firing in a tweet, saying reporting was done "as though I should think only how wonderful he was. Actually, I don't know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don't believe!)."
On Friday, Trump fired two key impeachment witnesses, dismissing Vindman, the top Ukraine expert at the council, and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. An adviser to Trump told CNN the firings of the major impeachment witnesses was meant to send a message that siding against the President will not be tolerated.
 

Trump Gave a Scholarship to a 4th Grader ‘Trapped’ in a ‘Failing’ Public Education at the State of the Union. She Reportedly Attends a Top Charter School

https://time.com/5780459/state-of-the-union-school-choice-charter-school/


During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump introduced Philadelphian 4th grader Janiyah Davis and said she would receive an “opportunity scholarship” to attend whatever school she wanted. He pointed to her experience as an argument for expanding school choice.
However, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Friday that Davis already attends a competitive charter school, Math Science and Technology Community Charter School III (MaST III).

 

Friday, February 7, 2020

Mitt Romney’s Honorable Stand Reaffirmed the Wisdom of Impeaching Trump

https://time.com/5779360/romneys-wisdom-impeaching-trump/


Wednesday, February 6 was supposed to be a moment of pure triumph for Donald Trump. The day after he delivered the State of the Union – and the same week that Democrats struggled to announce the results of their Iowa caucus – a united Republican Party was set to deliver a stern rebuke to the House of Representatives. It would end the “impeachment hoax” and march into 2020 firmly united behind a leader who brooks no dissent.
 

bitul kidushin

RCA bitul kidushin


Two young ladies that desperately need to get to seminary in Israel for next year



Dear Reader,

Although for many young people, seminary or Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel is a luxury, there are some people whose situation is such that they really need to be there - for their own well-being and future.


 There are two young ladies that desperately need to get to seminary in Israel for next year.  Both are seniors in high school.


Young lady A is a yesoma - whose mother remarried but the marriage was disastrous, ended in divorce, and the mother is destitute.

Young lady B's parents are going through a divorce and her mother, her, and her siblings, are being evicted.
If you are able to assist it would be a big Mitzvah and a remarkable zchus.  
Please contact Rabbi Yair Hoffman at yairhoffman2@gmail.com to find out how to help them.  Tizku l'Mitzvos

Thursday, February 6, 2020

8 unanswered questions about Trump and Ukraine that will live on after impeachment

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/06/politics/ukraine-impeachment-unanswered-questions/index.html

 Impeachment is over. President Donald Trump has been acquitted. One bruising chapter has ended, but another phase of the Ukraine affair is only now beginning.
Because Senate Republicans blocked all efforts to hear from new witnesses and subpoena documents, the complete story of what happened between Trump and Ukraine still hasn't been told. They calculated that it was better to acquit and move on, even if a smoking gun comes out later.

‘Nauseating’: Trump blasted for giving Rush Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom


Trump waves 'acquitted' headline, takes shot at Mitt Romney in speech


Michael Steele: Trump's Reality Show State Of The Union A 'Warm Up' To 2020 | The 11th Hour | MSNBC


Acosta: A state of the base speech, not a State of the Union speech


A dozen soldiers wounded in Jerusalem terror attack, 1 critical

https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Three-injured-in-Jerusalem-ramming-attack-report-616681

  At least 12 Golani Brigade soldiers were wounded overnight in what Israel Police are investigating as a terror attack. 
Preliminary reports said that the soldiers were returning from their IDF inauguration when a car rammed into them on David Remez St. near Jerusalem's First Station and then drove away. Security forces found the suspect's vehicle parked in a driveway in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem.

Pelosi Says She Tore Up Trump's 'Manifesto of Mistruths' as Dems Label His Speech a 'Right-Wing Reality Show'

https://www.newsweek.com/manifesto-mistruths-pelosi-trump-spotlight-right-wing-reality-show-1485776

In a closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday morning, Pelosi received a standing ovation, according to a Democratic aide in the room.
"I tried to find one page I could spare that didn't have a lie on it," she said, according to the aide. "About a quarter through it, I thought, 'You know, he's selling a bill of goods like a snake oil salesman. We cannot let this stand.' So, somewhere along the way, realizing what was coming, I started to stack my papers in a way that were tear-able."

 

Susan Collins' beyond-laughable explanation for her impeachment vote

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/05/politics/susan-collins-trump-impeachment/index.html

Had Collins left it there, she would have been fine. But she didn't leave it there. In an interview with CBS' Norah O'Donnell, Collins said "I believe that the President has learned from this case" and that Trump "will be much more cautious in the future."
 
All of which makes Collins' feeble attempt to defend her vote for acquittal frankly laughable. She has every right to say that she doesn't think that Trump committed impeachable crimes. And that convicting him would set a dangerous precedent for future presidents.
But attempting to suggest that this whole impeachment investigation has been some sort of teachable moment for Trump and that he "has learned from this case"? Give me a break. No one -- including Collins -- believes that.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Religious Exemption Without Religious Capitulation



BS"D

Encouraging News for Religious Girls in Israel: Another Religious Exemption Without Religious Capitulation


10 Shvat, 5780 °° Wed., Feb. 5, '20

By Binyomin Feinberg

feinbergbinyomin@gmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~


1. B"H, this Sunday, sources involved in the case of a female Refusenik seeking to avoid the Israeli military draft received notification of the approval of her religious exemption. This success occurred despite - rather, probably precisely because of - her refusal to submit to a Rayon Dat, despite complications of her case. (Details of her identity are not being published at this time, to protect her privacy.)

2. One organization that had been involved in discussions about the case initially suggested that, in her specific situation - in which her previous religious certification was disqualified - she may need to opt to submit to a Rayon Dat. However, another organization, Irgun Shomrei Torah, was insistent that a Rayon Dat is not an option. As per the advice of the latter organization, this young lady, from a Chareidi family, persued her religious exemption without submitting to a Rayon Dat. BE"H, she prevailed.

3. She is just one of many female Refuseniks who, despite clearly disadvantaged situations, persist in fighting for their exemptions without sacrificing Halacha by submitting to a Rayon Dat.

~~~

Rayon Dat Interviews:

4. Religious girls who learn in nonreligious schools are generally told by the Army, and even by some Chareidi askonim - that they must (or should) submit to a Rayon Dat. A Rayon Dat is an interview, or interrogation, to determine eligibility for a religious exemption.

5. However, in reality, even if a girls studied in a non-religious school, she not only need not do so - a clear understanding of what's involved leads to the inescapable conclusion that a girl definitely should not submit to any such meeting - or even enter the Draft Offices.

6. Merely entering the Draft Office is prohibited on more than one basis. Firstly, most people don't grasp the extent to which the entire setup in those offices is geared towards drafting the girls into the military (see further, and Talmud Avoda Zorah 17a, 27b).

7. Secondly, the girls enter into a serious Yichud situation there, another reality which similarly evades public scrutiny (for some odd reason).

8. Practically speaking, entering the Draft Offices is downright dangerous. Professional, seasoned draft officers confine the girls or women in intimidating isolation (sometimes disabling even phone communication), sometimes for hours on end. They meticulously analyze each religious girl. They seek out and identify any susceptibilities to pressure, threats, deception, or incentives. The draft officials then exploit those weaknesses to their fullest, often employing a blended "Carrot-and-Stick" strategy. Their aim is to ensure that no (targeted) girl is "left out" of the Army, the societal melting pot.

9. In addition, the draft officers possess both the authority and the ability to have the girls on premises arrested on the spot, almost at whim. These officers also have ample opportunity to exploit their positions to pressure these females (often teenagers) into illicit conduct. For that reason alone, there is a formidable "Yichud" (seclusion between the genders, prohibited by Jewish Law) objection to merely entering the premises.

~~~

"New Halacha:" (sic)

"Going where no man dare go..."

10. Somewhat surprisingly, there are some activists who actually encourage ostensibly "weaker" girls to enter the Draft Offices. They argue that if the girls don't cooperate with Army directives to submit to a Rayon Dat, then the Army will play "hardball," denying the girl the legal right to apply for a religious exemption. Then the girl will need to employ diligent resistance, perhaps even civil disobedience in ignoring Army directives to enlist. These activists express the pronounced, perhaps hyperinflated fear that girls whom they somehow deem to be "weaker" will be unable to withstand the challenge over time, and may eventually succumb to enlist in the military.

11. To avoid the possibility (clearly not a certainty) of a few girls eventually breaking and enlisting, these activists propose waiving the long-standing prohibition against entering the Draft Offices, a prohibition stridently articulated by world renowned Torah Sages of the previous and current generations, and articulated without the aforementioned suggested exceptions of "weaker girls." And some activists advocate doing so en masse, for many girls, all ostensibly to save to the individual girls who may not withstand the standoff with the Draft Office, "Maitav."

12. Moreover, some activists have been known to ACTIVELY DIRECT girls into the Draft Offices, and to submit to a Rayon Dat, or even to submit to worse procedures, e.g. military draft "Hearings" and promiscuous military "medical exams" "supervised" by male "staff*."

13. (*Note: In many countries, the latter immodest "medical procedures" would be criminal offences punishable by law, on account of illicit and unnecessary exposure of females to male spectators. However, in the secularist-run Israeli Army, unfortunately, the hedonistic "Mizron Tzahali" male-female military paradigm appears to prevail over basic human decency. Yes, "Equality" is indeed invoked by the Army - but that's to integrate women collectively - while simultaneously denigrating and mistreating women as individuals, individuals who truly deserve protection, privacy, dignity and respect.)

~~~

A Partial Response:

There are multiple arguments against the aforementioned novel Halachic "innovation." Suffice it to present a few points for now.

14. In reality, the LAST girls to send into the Draft Offices are girls that may be susceptible to their deception, pressure, and other conscription techniques, as explained above (#8). Said weaknesses of girls should militate towards strengthening them, over time, enabling them to resist Army intimidation and harassment - not submitting them to those trained and empowered to most efficiently exploit the girls and their weaknesses.

15. Moreover, Gedolim and poskim of the stature to override the decisions of Torah giants like Rav Bengis, the Brisker Rov, the Chazon Ish, Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, OB"M, etc. are hard to find nowadays, to grandly understate. (Furthermore, we are not aware of one single Gadol or posaik who has posited such a Halachic dispensation for sending girls into the Draft Offices, or to any such military interviews, and by all indications there are none.)

16. There are other arguments against allowing girls into Draft Offices, even "le'shitosom" of those who argue it should be permitted when there is ostensibly "no alternative." One argument was exemplified by Lital bas Miriam, now imprisoned over three weeks in Military Prison Four. In her case, as reported here, she was directed to submit to a Rayon Dat, years ago. Apparently, due to the pervasive ignorance about the prohibition and danger of such interviews, she agreed. This provided the interviewing draft officer an opportunity to trip Lital up on something she had no obligation to know, as we reported last week. Thereby, draft officers fraudulently manufactured a "legal" basis to rob Lital of her entitlement to a Religious Exemption, something they would have been unable to legally perpetrate without subjecting her to a Rayon Dat.

In the wake of succumbing to that Army subterfuge many years ago, she's been languishing in jail for about three weeks now.


17. Speaking of Equality:

A Tale of Two Tyrannies:

As reported last week, a religious girl from France, Rivka Noa bas Yehudis (note correction of name) has been incarcerated for over TWO MONTHS in Military Prison Six, all for a technicality -- allegedly submitting her religiosity cerification late.

But the Draft Office has no such concern over their OWN responsibility to comply with the law, specifically their obligation to RESPOND to girls about their draft exemption status, in wake of their filling for religious exemptions.

~~~~

Recent Posts:

(Parshas Bo)

http://firstamendmentactivist.blogspot.com/2020/01/righteous-outrage-goes-international.html

~~~

http://firstamendmentactivist.blogspot.com/2020/01/from-behind-israeli-iron-curtain.html *

* correction: Rivka No'ah bas Yehudis is the name of the religious girl who came from France, imprisoned over two MONTHS in Military Prison Six, in the North.
~~~
https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2020/01/spiritual-auschwitz.html

Demo Photos:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nTJT9255QwfrfYLMJ3_NaE8woQPF70MC

Pentagon officials stunned by White House decision to block Ukraine aid, new emails show

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/05/politics/emails-pentagon-alarm-ukraine-aid/index.html

The new information underscores how the July 18th decision to hold the military aid stunned officials, who had already assessed Ukraine deserved to receive it and were preparing a Javelin missile order as well. The decision reverberated across the government for weeks. Officials grew so concerned over the deferrals by the Office of Management and Budget that they noted the aid was at "serious risk," and questioned if the move was illegal.

Rep. Tim Ryan Walks Out Of State Of The Union: ‘Give Me A Break!’ | The Last Word | MSNBC


Steven Rattner: Job Growth Under Trump Slower Than It Was Under Obama | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Joe: How Do You Call It A Good Speech If It's Fed By Lies? | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Pelosi HUMILIATES Trump during his State of the Union speech


Dershowitz cited this professor for his defense. The professor says he's wrong


https://www.newsweek.com/trump-supreme-court-tax-returns-new-york-1485676

 Siding with President Donald Trump in his quest to prevent New York prosecutors from obtaining his tax return, the Justice Department filed a new brief with the Supreme Court on Monday arguing in favor of presidential immunity. The department defended the broad notion of immunity from cumbersome judicial proceedings by noting that the president can be held accountable in other ways, such as through impeachment, scrutiny from the press, and his desire to maintain a positive reputation.
After noting the broad scope of immunity the Justice Department has previously determined applies to the president on questions of arrest and indictment, the filing observes "a wide range of 'alternative remedies and deterrents' to presidential wrongdoing" that fall outside strict judicial action.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is seeking Trump's personal tax returns by way of the president's accounting firm, Mazars USA, as part of a state criminal investigation into potential violations of New York record-keeping laws.

Jewish Protester Removed From Donald Trump Jr Iowa Speech After Shouting: 'More Jews Are Being Gunned Down Every Year'

https://www.newsweek.com/jewish-activist-removed-trump-rally-iowa-1485531


As Donald Jr. was mocking 2020 Democratic hopeful Mike Bloomberg, Glickman stood and began shouting, "I'm an American Jew and ever since your father was elected president, more and more Jews are being gunned down every year."

Here Are the Facts Behind President Trump's 2020 State of the Union Claims

https://time.com/5777914/fact-check-state-of-the-union-2020/

 During his speech, President Trump credited his administration’s “bold regulatory reduction campaign” with turning the United States into “the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world, by far.”
But it isn’t clear that Trump can claim sole credit for increasing the country’s energy output.
Much of the United States’ recent increase in energy production is due to technological innovation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Higher-producing horizontal wells are becoming more common, for instance. While the number of natural gas- and oil-producing wells declined from 1,035,000 in 2014 to 982,000 in 2018, oil and gas production continued to increase.
Moreover, Trump’s policies have been a “mixed bag” for the industry, Kyle Isakower, vice president for regulatory and economic policy at the American Petroleum Institute, told NPR in August. He noted that Trump’s steel tariffs have driven up costs, for instance.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020