Strange archive find on Tony Blinken and Channuka – he is supposed to visit the US State Department on Thursday.
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The transition to the Biden presidency is picking up speed. Tomorrow, Thursday, Tony Blinken is due to meet Acting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department in Washington. The formal meeting is only supposed to last fifteen minutes and thus signals the frosty mood between the Trump administration and the future government team around Joe Biden. But at least Pompeo, as one of Trump’s closest followers, is bowing to the facts. On Monday, the college of electoral men from the states confirmed Biden’s victory on November 3, and then Mitch McConnell as the Republican majority leader in the Senate and Russian President Vladimir Putin finally paid Biden their reference.
According to CNN, Blinken has by no means waited for an invitation from Pompeo, but is already preparing for his future duties as foreign minister in other ways. He is known to have an extensive network of contacts worldwide. Confirmation by the US Senate is required to take office. There are currently no signs of broad opposition from Republicans to the long-time Biden confidante (Link).
In addition, the National Archives in Washington uncovered a strange 1998 memo from Blinken by then Netanyahu advisor Jacob Maor. At the time, Blinken was the foreign policy advisor to Bill Clinton, who was planning a visit to Israel at Hannukah. Maor gave Blinken a long list of holiday jokes, all of which seemed crude and inappropriate. Jokes about cooking oil allegedly sitting in deep fryers for eight weeks or “Hannukah money from Uncle Sam” in the form of military aid for Israel should be funny. Blinken didn’t seem to pass the list on. Clinton then declared: “This Festival of Lights should remind us all of the many blessings that illuminate our lives: the love of God, the gift of freedom, the strength of family and community, plus the hope of peace.”Link).
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