IMO, the BIG QUESTION is this:
Is there any long term consequence to an individual who contracts Covid-19? In other words, is Covid-19 like HIV, or is it like regular flu? The difference is that HIV is NOT cleared by the body’s immune system, whereas all influenza viruses (H1N1, etc.) are cleared by the body’s immune system AND immunity is permanent or semi-permanent.
I seriously doubt anyone has the answer to this question today, but I think it should be being asked because the consequences of the answer are extraordinarily significant.

Posted by: Don Wills | Mar 1 2020 16:29 utc | 3

very interesting UN report happened on to .. on Torture.

Posted by: snake | Mar 1 2020 16:37 utc | 5

Turkey downing of the Syrian jets over Syria’s soil is a declaration of war unlike, in 2015, the so-called “accident” of Turkey downing the Russian jet.
It’s on.
Syrian air defense systems down six Turkish combat drone

DAMASCUS / Syria/, March 1. /TASS/. Six Turkish combat drones have been destroyed by Syrian air defense systems, a source in the Syrian defense ministry said on Sunday.
According to the source, the drone were delivering strikes on the positions of the Syrian government army to provide backing to terrorist groups:[.]

============
Of note. The Interim US-Taliban peace arrangement. It was reported as the US signing a peace deal with enemy Taliban
and that left Bolton in a hissy fit, by his S hairs:
Bolton: US-Taliban Deal Poses ‘Unacceptable Risk to America’s Civilian Population’
LINK

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has lashed out at a US-Taliban peace deal which he claimed poses an “unacceptable risk to America’s civilian population”.

“This is an Obama-style deal. Legitimising Taliban sends the wrong signal to ISIS [Daesh*] and al-Qaeda* terrorists, and to America’s enemies generally,” Bolton tweeted on Saturday, referring to US President Donald Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama.

Well, we are thankful Trump fired the bastard. We could be at World War 6. How do we usher this bastard off stage? Gently, so as not to hurt his moustache.

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 1 2020 16:50 utc | 7

@6 u know those sticks the chinese eat rice with? We can do some big ones, wrap some clothes on top not to hurt his moustache and just put him in the bin, sorry, box.

Posted by: albagen | Mar 1 2020 17:05 utc | 9

i think i am going to stop trying to open twitter links when only about 1/2 of them open up to anything other then ‘try again’..
i saw this article in the turkish news that i thought was cool.. Making room for women maestros
the taliban won in afganistan….that is rather interesting…
coronavirus in the usa… it seems like they aren’t prepared…
@ 4 blue dotterel.. foreign policy seems to be the achilles heel of sanders, not that any bernie bots are paying attention.

Posted by: james | Mar 1 2020 17:33 utc | 11

@ albumen 9
bamboo trees can grow to 6″ diameter. You will need a young tree. Go for it. I’ll throw in the popcorn.
===========
This week Erdo asked Putin to step aside so he can go one-on-one with “the Assad regime”
The Kremlin has responded:

Kremlin Responds to Erdogan’s Request That Russia ‘Step Aside’ in Syria

On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to “get out of Turkey’s way” and to leave Ankara “face to face” with Damascus in the renegade Syrian province of Idlib.
Russia is the only country with a legitimate, internationally recognized right to station troops in Syria, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
“Russia is the only country which has troops in Syria on a legal basis and at the request of the legitimate Syrian government,” Peskov said, speaking to Russia 1’s Moscow.Kremlin.Putin programme on Sunday when asked to comment on President Erdogan’s remarks about what “business” Russia has in Syria.

“All other military forces of other countries are in Syria in contravention of the norms and principles of international law,” Peskov added.[.]
Peskov recalled that in addition to attacking the Syrian Army, the terrorists were also attacking Russian military units in the Arab Republic. “Therefore,” he noted, “regardless of any statements, the fight against these terrorist elements will continue.”[.]
Peskov also confirmed that Presidents Putin and Erdogan would meet on March 5 or 6 in Moscow to discuss the Syrian crisis. According to Peskov, the meeting would not be an easy one. “This will undoubtedly be a difficult meeting, [.]

Oh to have a chair in the hallway a few feet from the meeting chambers!!!
Erdo is really pushing against a string.

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 1 2020 17:53 utc | 13

The Center for Economic and Policy Research had its analysis of the OAS’ very consequential report on last autumn’s Bolivian election peer reviewed. The findings agreed with CEPR, that the OAS report was based on “problematical” statistics, and that the election, rather than irregular, was in fact fairly won by Morales and his MAS party. Morales is currently in exile in Argentina, and faces, along with other party leaders, sedition and terrorism charges for his participation in an election which he fairly won.
The OAS has yet to respond to the criticism. However, this news was reported in the Washington Post, perhaps as a heads-up to the NED minders preparing “technical assistance” for the election re-do scheduled for May.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/27/oas-has-lot-answer-new-mit-study-disputes-key-claim-paved-way-right-wing-coup

Posted by: jayc | Mar 1 2020 18:46 utc | 15

EtTu @ 1
The damaged hardware will be replaced quite quickly if there aren’t already spares in Syria. There were reports on Twitter in the last couple of weeks that a large shipment of heavy hardware had arrived in Syria from Russia. BTW, in 2009, the Russians had 1,600 2S3 Akatsiya heavy self-propelled howitzers in storage and 1,400 in active service. The “Happy Time” for Turkish drones will not last long, and will be followed by many “Black Days”.

Posted by: Ghost Ship | Mar 1 2020 19:18 utc | 17

Re: Erdogan’s political schizophrenia
I’ve not been frequent enough on MoA last weeks to follow fully what’s been said regarding Erdogan’s curious policy switching and actions that defy surface analysis. Some have compared his position with pre-1990 Saddam Hussein. Perhaps it may well also be useful to look at the model of Manuel Noriega of Panama. Whilst coup number One has failed, Rand Corp. have published docs to suggest coup. No. Two may be at least in the heads of some.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2589.html
Whilst this is vague and speculative it’s a lever to apply pressure to Erdogan – when used in conjunction with the present circumstances. Erdogan is named in the US indictment and planned prosecution of the Turkish Halkbank for breach of Iran sanctions and Erdogan is concerned enough to have pressed Trump for stalling this process – to no avail.
https://www.intellinews.com/blow-for-turkey-s-halkbank-as-us-federal-court-rejects-appeal-move-on-iran-sanctions-evasion-indictment-177161/?source=bne-banker
Indictment:
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said: “Halkbank, a Turkish state-owned bank, allegedly conspired to undermine the United States Iran sanctions regime by illegally giving Iran access to billions of dollars’ worth of funds, all while deceiving U.S. regulators about the scheme. This is one of the most serious Iran sanctions violations we have seen, and no business should profit from evading our laws or risking our national security.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “As we allege today, Halkbank, a Turkish financial institution whose majority shareholder is the government of Turkey, willfully engaged in deceptive activities designed to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran. Halkbank illegally facilitated the illicit transfer of billions of dollars to benefit Iran, and for far too long the bank and its leaders willfully deceived the United States to shield their actions from scrutiny. That deception ends today. The FBI will aggressively pursue those who intentionally violate U.S. sanctions laws and attempt to undercut our national security.”
Can Erdogan be facing extradition and a potential Noriega like US custodial sentence?
Can this be enough motivation for his about face on policy?
Perhaps his aggressive erratic behaviour can be explained when seen as a cornered animal with little chance of escape. With a large US force stationed inside his Country, and a tenuous hold on a slipping economy is he vulnerable enough to exploitation by Pentagon Hawks etc to explain his actions as a last ditch USA quid pro quo?
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/16/halkbank-indictment-turbocharges-u-s-turkey-tensions-zarrab-erdogan-iran/
Any Barflies that can shed any more light or insight here is much appreciated.

Posted by: dennis | Mar 1 2020 19:27 utc | 19

Virus spreads to 60 countries. Italy hard hit. Tourism industry looking at a heavy blow.
AP:Dominican Republic records its first; an Italian man had arrived Feb 22 without showing signs of symptoms. Cruise ship denied docking.

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 1 2020 20:09 utc | 21

Greece is getting hard measure on border. So.. Erdogan blackmail this time isn’t working. Yet the Green party in Germany is calling to Greece open the gates and Merkel to pressure Russia. Are Germany’s green party funded by the Muslim Brotherhood in Qatar? For real..

Posted by: Nick | Mar 1 2020 20:19 utc | 23