“It was a massive strategic miscalculation on their part,” said Richard Horsey, an independent political analyst, who added that the military appeared to have severely underestimated the level of public opposition. “But I think they still believe they can win this.”

Faced with opposition across society, the military has been unleashing a campaign of terror and chaos. Protesters are being detained, brutally beaten and, increasingly, shot dead. After dark, trucks of troops swarm through residential areas, firing indiscriminately and setting off stun grenades. Every night homes are raided, with officers going door to door arresting protesters and anyone deemed to be sheltering them. About 1,800 people have been taken, although this is probably an underestimate.

“The level of violence and intimidation that they’re having to mete out is creating a wellspring of hatred and opposition that is unifying much of the country,” added Horsey. “They will be able to deploy the violence that’s necessary to impose their will, but then what?”

The military will be left presiding over a country with deep, multiple crises, he added, with far less domestic or international support.

Source: Myanmar’s junta – caught out by passion of protests – unleashes terror | Myanmar coup | The Guardian

The encounter struck a chord with Cooper. He says that the percentage of people with military connections served by the San Antonio Food Bank has more than doubled from 15 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic to 37 percent. Source: San Antonio Food Bank saw surge in demand from military community during pandemic

The Asian Development Bank has suspended its funding for projects by Myanmar’s government following a military coup in the country.

The ADB said in a statement on Wednesday that it “remains deeply concerned about recent developments in Myanmar, especially the loss of life during civil protests.”

The bank said it had put a temporary hold on funding for sovereign projects and new contracts in Myanmar from February 1.

Source: ADB suspends funding Myanmar govt. projects | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

On Saturday, March 6, American Legion Post 790 in West Covina, Calif., provided facilities for the VA Medical Center of Greater Los Angeles to conduct a vaccination clinic for veterans.

Rob Merchant, executive director of ambulatory care for the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System put the alliance this way: “We are making an effort … with The American Legion here to bring the vaccines where veterans are, not where the VA is.”

The March 6 clinic was the first among several planned for the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County over the next month. Most of the vaccination events will be conducted at American Legion posts, such as Post 261 in El Monte this week. 

Source: Veterans vaccinated at LA-area American Legion posts | The American Legion

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York (now including New York City), Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (now including Philadelphia), Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Source: CVS Health now offering COVID-19 vaccines in 29 states | CVS Health

As part of President Biden’s commitment to ensure the nation’s underserved communities and those disproportionately affected by COVID-19 are equitably vaccinated, this week the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is announcing that an additional 700 HRSA-supported health centers will be invited to join the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program. These health centers will have the opportunity to join the program over the next six weeks, increasing the total number of invited health center participants to 950.   Source: Biden Administration to Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Program to 950 Community Health Centers | HHS.gov

At least 70 people have been killed in the crackdown on anti-coup protesters by Myanmar security forces since the military took control of the country last month, a U.N. expert on human rights in the Southeast Asian country said Thursday.

“Credible reports indicate that, as of today, Myanmar security forces have murdered at least 70 people,” Thomas Andrews said at a session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Source: 70 killed in Myanmar crackdown on anti-coup protesters: U.N. expert

“It’s tempting to say it is a case of non-assistance to a country in danger by Lebanese politicians,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a news conference.

“Everyone knows what needs to be done.”

France has taken a leading role in trying to break the political deadlock in its former protectorate, with President Emmanuel Macron visiting the country twice last year.

Lebanon’s deeply divided political class has failed to agree on a new cabinet since a massive explosion in Beirut port last August that killed more than 200 people and led to the government’s resignation.

Source: France says Lebanon ‘running out of time before total collapse’

There were 3,508 new cases of the coronavirus and 273 additional deaths reported statewide on March 10.

Source: Coronavirus tracker: Hospitalizations in California fall below 4,000 for first time in four months – San Gabriel Valley Tribune