Freak water spout - 2 missing, Russian falls from Pattaya condo : Tim Newton Today - August 14
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Trump’s Rubio Strategy Is No Joke — It’s a Strategic Power Shift
Trump’s Rubio Strategy Is No Joke — It’s a Strategic Power Shift The internet has been buzzing with jokes and memes about President Trump appointing Marco Rubio to nearly every foreign policy-related role in government. From Secretary of State to presumed overseer of USAID and whispers of him heading up more, satirists have had a field day imagining what’s next — a seat on the Supreme Court or a turn as Fed Chair. But while the online mockery is abundant, the underlying strategy reveals something more serious and deliberate than most pundits acknowledge. For those who have worked within these agencies, Trump’s move to consolidate foreign policy functions under Rubio isn’t as outlandish as it seems. In fact, it may be a long-overdue solution to a fundamental structural flaw that has consistently hindered effective U.S. foreign policy. By putting one person in charge of an array of foreign policy and development entities, Trump isn’t elevating Rubio so much as fixing a fragmented system that has historically lacked clear lines of accountability. As someone directly involved in the shutdown of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the launch of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), I saw firsthand how siloed mandates and overlapping authorities bogged down progress. Even simple tasks were complicated by the fact that no one was quite sure who was in charge. We constantly had to ask, or be asked, whether a project fell under development or foreign policy, and which agency or congressional committee had the final say. At OPIC, we were often stuck navigating conflicting guidance from State, USAID, the National Security Council, and even Treasury — each asserting partial oversight. These ambiguities delayed eighteen-month investment deals that were crucial in countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The DFC, created under Trump’s first term, was designed to improve this by doubling investment capacity and incorporating new tools. But it, too, needed better alignment between foreign policy and development — a relationship historically strained by bureaucratic friction. Trump’s recent appointments are a direct response to these inefficiencies. By centralizing diplomatic, development, and strategic decision-making under a unified command, Trump is forcing agencies that previously operated with near-autonomy to align with one voice and one strategy. Non-profits and intermediaries that thrived in the gray areas between agencies — often by virtue of insider knowledge — may lose influence, but in their place comes a cleaner, more transparent chain of command. There are costs, of course, particularly for those in Washington who built careers on managing the chaos and fragmentation. But for the American people, this new structure provides a single point of accountability. When policies falter or implementation fails, the question of who’s responsible will be much clearer. Congress benefits too: lawmakers now have a centralized figure to hold to account, and potentially, this could encourage a more streamlined and unified budgeting process for foreign policy priorities. Trump’s restructuring is not about seizing more power for its own sake. Rather, it’s about restoring presidential leadership over foreign policy — something clearly rooted in the Constitution and reflective of electoral will. As the world grows more competitive and the stakes in global affairs rise, the United States can no longer afford the bureaucratic paralysis of overlapping mandates and unclear chains of command. By handing Rubio the keys to so many agencies, Trump hasn’t created chaos — he’s cleared it. And in doing so, he’s ensured that America now speaks with one voice abroad — his own. Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Hill 2025-05-05 -
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Residence certificate from Canadian Embassy?
It was not a poor option for me, in Bangkok it was a lot easier and quicker for me to go to the Canadian Embassy than to Immigration at Chaeng Wattana. -
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Immigration Thailand Digital Arrival Card. TDAC
Makes sense, otherwise it would be absolutely pointless, except for saving paper. - Yeah, right Thai officials reducing paper trails... 😆😂 -
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Pam Bondi claims Donald Trump has saved 75% of American lives in first 100 days
If that’s all you got. That’s all you got! I know the pain is deep. Counseling may help with your condition. -
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Report Swiss Man Faces Arrest in Phuket Over Alleged Assault on Thai Doctor
As I recall, one of the things he was accused of doing was not giving way to an ambulance. -
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Question for US Citizen with US-based Charles Schwab Account
I have a brokerage account that used to be Datek, then TDAmeritrade, and now Charles Schwab. I've got a couple of questions for those who still hold a US based account with a US residence address. Do any of you use your US address as your permanent physical address and your Thai address as a mailing address. The reason I'm asking is that I've obviously have had a brokerage account for a long time but I'm considering opening a bank account with them now too as I have to begin pulling money out of my IRA and I might as well bank it with Charles Schwab. Having a Charles Schwab debit card would be a plus with it's no foreign ATM fees. So I was curious to know if they would mail the debit card to a Thai address? Has anyone done that? I know I could open a Charles Schwab International account, but I don't believe you can assign a beneficiary with that account. That's important as I don't have a US "Will" and when I die those funds need to be transferred to my wife who is my beneficiary. So at this time I'm not looking at the International account. So just checking to see if anyone else with a US account and a US physical address has used a Thai mailing address to receive their debit card.
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