Violence in the Streets

Like most Americans, I've been closely following events in the Libya and the other Arab countries. Much has been made of the violence directed primarily toward American embassies (but English, French, and German as well), and the coldblooded murder of our Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens plus three others (the capture and murder were even shown live on Libyan TV).

The Obama White House attempted (and is still attempting) to link the violence to a previously unknown and poorly made movie "insulting" the Moslem prophet, Muhammad. At the same time, local media shows Moslems apologizing for their fellow Moslems and expressing how ashamed they are of the acts of barbarity, and all the while, their governments doing little to stop (and in some case, actually encouraging) the protests. We had our own President Obama actually apologize to those who stormed the walls of our embassy in Cairo.

Now, let's think about this for just a bit shall we? Our State Department allegedly claims the attack in Libya was "spontaneous". The Obama White House claims it was "spontaneous". However, the attack came on the 11th anniversary of the 911 terrorists attack. Reports out of our embassy indicated "strange behavior" days before by the locals, as well as by the Libyans security personnel working within the embassy compound. Ambassador Steve even tweeted a few hours earlier that he expected to be killed that night. None of our security personnel were allowed to carry live rounds. When the attack came, it came with RPGs, grenades, automatic weapons, and appeared to be well organized, especially since the compound was completely seized within a few hours.

Later, officials in Libya concluded this was a pre-planned staged attacked. Local Al Qaeda leaders said it was staged, and called for more protests (which they got), along with instructions to murder Americans where you find them. But Obama says it all has to do with the movie. I have to wonder why Obama would seem so insistent to deny the obvious? Could it be because they ignore the all the warning signs? Could it be because this was the promised revenge for taking out the chief thug, Osama bin Laden? Could it be because he has no plans for a response? Perhaps there's some other reason like campaigning and not doing his job to protect Americans. After all, embassies are considered "national soil" and an attack on an embassy carries the same diplomatic weight as an attack on that country. Why too would Obama snub one of our staunchest allies and the only democracy in the region, Israel, while at the same time, engage active conversation with the Moslem Brotherhood, who control Egypt and Libya?

Second, we're told repeatedly (usually after some act of bloodshed) that Islam is a religion of peace. Most of the Moslems I've known are very peaceful, reflective individuals. So who are these thousands of people burning American flags, beating up, jailing, or murdering Americans? Who are these people destroying property, throwing rocks, planting bombs, and blowing themselves and innocent men, women, and children up? Who are these people who are angry at perceived insults directed toward Allah and Mohammed but feel free to attack Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and destroy or burn their sacred structures and texts? Why are their governments unwilling (or unable) to stop it? Willing accomplices I often wonder. Why did we spend all this time, money, and lives, to save Afghan and Iraqi lives; rebuild both countries, only to see them cowardly murder their benefactors? Where are all the outranged non-extremists? Why are they always a few camera ready "apologizing" and not doing something to stop the violence?

Why do "peaceful" and "enlighten" Moslems still engage in "honor murders" of their wives, sisters, and daughters? What religious culture makes men so afraid of the women, they make the women hide themselves? Why are Moslem women still treated like property, with little or no rights? Why do girls going to school fear having acid thrown in their faces, and why don't their families or the local authorities do something about it? After all, the perpetrators are often well known by all. But, then, this is their responsibility, not ours.

Perhaps groups like Al Qaeda are right. All they want is for the West to leave them alone and party like it's 979. Frankly, I have no problem with that. We could stop the $11.6 billion in humanitarian and economic aid we send to the Arab/Moslem nations too. After all most of these nations don't even support us in the United Nations. The trip back to 979 won't take long. I'm sure we could find something to do with that money here at home. But there's the little matter of oil and of Israel. The West , for all its economic wealth and materialism, is a junkie; a bodybuilder on steroids. Our drug of choice is oil. Think of it as industrial grade opium. We have lots of other options---solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, thermo, battery, and more, but we like oil. The problem is that the world is quickly running out. Global oil production peaked about 15 years ago, but there's still lots of money to be made before the bottom falls out (and we're not even discussing global warming). Despite all the bluster from the US and the West about democracy and human rights, it's really all about the oil. President Jimmy Carter promised Americans in 1976 after OPEC's oil embargo that we would be energy independent in 20 years. We're more dependent than ever, and with Wall Street controlling Washington, not much is going to change until we break the link. China, India, and other emerging nations are trying to get their fix too. Mother Russia seems to be the most secure of the world powers with its vast and still largely untapped fields in Siberia. Global warming is proving to be a short term boon for the Bear.

As for Israel. sorry folks but it isn't going anywhere. You better come to terms with it. The best the terrorists and other fanatics can hope for is a long drawn stalemate, but I'm afraid what will happen is a nuclear, chemical or biological strike against Israel. If that should happen, in its final act of defiance, Israel will take out every aggressor nation in the region. The Sons of Abraham will die with their hands around each other's throats. Embraced at last. There will be no messiah to deliverer the survivors, unless cockroaches have a messiah. They will be the meek who inherit the earth, or at least a portion of it. Just imagine. All three Abrahamic religions believe in a god of love, compassion, and peace, so what do we do? We hate and butcher in His name. Wouldn't He be proud of us, His creation? Apparently God does make some mistakes.

The West, along with China, India, and the rest of the world will finally be rid of its addiction like a junkie going cold turkey, but at least it will be free. It then will be forced to deal with the long cold nuclear nightmare of massive starvation, disease and radiation; all for greed. Greed is good, but Humanity is better.
Back home, Obama's agenda is nothing short of the social re-engineering of America. He claims our Founding Fathers were flawed, and therefore, our Constitution is flawed. He believes in social and wealth redistribution. He even said so. He believes is socialism at best, but we seem to be headed for an American version of Stalinism. I'm sure the end justifies the means. For the victor, it always does. But it's not just America, it's the rest of the world too. We are quickly moving away from the era of individualistic freedom and toward a corporate feudalism in America with a yet to be determined socialistic or fascist tilt. But there is still theocratic dictatorship or communism with a capitalist mask for the rest of the world too. So, what will it be folks? Tyranny by dollar? Tyranny by religion? Tyranny by dogma? Or will it yet be freedom for all? It's your call.

Libya: Too little too late?

Ok, things are officially (in my opinion) getting out of hand. After weeks of doing nothing, Obama finally has decided to impose a joint “No-Fly” zone in Libya, in conjunction with several allies. This will mark the third Moslem nation that the US and its allies will be engaged in militarily. Fodder for the Moslem extremists and their propaganda machine if you ask me.

Weeks ago, the Libyan people took to the streets in opposition to strongman and kook, Muammar Gadhafi. What were first protests turned into an armed uprising. The rebels managed, with popular support and hidden arms stashes, to push the Libyan armed forces almost all the way back to Tripoli. Not able to rely on his military, Gadhafi hired mercenaries from neighboring countries (most notably Algeria. Some of his own pilots refused to bomb fellow citizens. They were shot for their humanity). Thus, with a relentless air and missile assault, the rebels started on their long retreat with Gadhafi’s mercenary forces targeting civilians, hospitals, and whatever else they could find. Obama’s only comment at the time was that “noose was tightening around Gadhafi”. Really? How about a reality check Mr. President?

So, now that the rebels have been pushed back to Benghazi and nearly wiped out as viable fighting force, and after ignoring weeks of pleas from rebels leaders, civilians, and international relief organizations, Obama has finally decided to step up to the plate and lead; or rather, follow the lead of such nations as Britain, France, and Denmark. Gadhafi requested a cease fire, but instead used the occasion to launch a bloody assault.

Although the US is now attempting to impose a “No-Fly” zone, principally over the last major rebel stronghold, Benghazi, along with our allies, the question becomes whether or not our inaction over the last few weeks has done irreparable damage to the pro-democratic resistance movement. Can the will of the people be won back to the side of rebels? Can they attract new fighters to replace those whose lives were wasted? Can they replenish their military supplies? What about basic survival for the general population, such as food, water, and medical assistance?

No doubt that if Gadhafi’s assault can be stopped (especially the indiscriminate bombings and missile strikes), international relief efforts (already stretched to the breaking point), may be able to offer some assistance. The Libyans themselves are both disappointed and angry with the US and the UN for their inaction (and who can blame them?). Weapons and military supplies can always be replaced. But will there be anyone to take up the arms and start the assault on Gadhafi anew? Can they count on Western support? Given our actions to date, you can’t fault them for having doubts.

Meanwhile, the situation in other Middle Eastern countries (think oil producers) such as Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, and Syria continues to go from bad to worse. In Yemen, military sharp shooters have been ambushing and murdering protestors. In Bahrain, neighboring Saudi Arabia has sent troops to put down protestors, who apparently also have order to shoot to kill. Syria too has dealt heavy handedly with their pro-democracy protestors. Obviously these repressive dictatorships don’t plan on going quietly into the night.

Israel remains in an uneasy situation. Three times now, arms bound for her enemies having been intercepted. One has to wonder how much is getting through. Counties like Iran are obviously using the confusing situation to re-supply their surrogate armies like Hezbollah. Iran also continues with its nuclear program despite toothless sanctions imposed by the United Nations. With a global economy still in the proverbial tank, and the US engaged in two wars, Afghanistan and Iraq, the pro-democracy groups couldn’t have picked a worse possible movement to lash out at their government. The cold truth is that there is little the West, and especially the US, can do to help in the short run. The “No Fly” zone should have been implemented sooner and countries like France and Britain should have acted with or without a US commitment. The “leader of the free world” has proved time and again that he has feet of clay. All this could result in pro-democratic groups being replaced in places like Tunisia and Egypt by religious extremists with the support of Iran.

I look for Gadhafi to ultimately prevail and brutally eliminate his opposition. What is the West going to do about? Impose another sanction? He’s got oil. We need him more than he needs the West. After all, he can always do business with China. The same came be expected in Yemen, Oman, and Bahrain. Their backward governments will prevail for much the same reasons, and quite possibly the same results. The instability of the region will make oil and gas nearly as valuable as food and water, but unbearably more expensive. Gone will the mobile society. Terrorist groups, using mostly the homegrown variety, will launch campaigns within Western countries to focus their attention (and resources) inward. Similar attacks will hit other longtime enemies, such as India. China and Russia may find that they aren’t as immune as they think they are. When fighting for God, political ideology counts for little.

Iran will continue to stir up trouble until it has at least three nuclear warheads and a reliable delivery system. Confident in the West’s lack of leadership and political inertia, as well as the support of a large, vocal, and potentially destructive Moslem minority, Iran will make good its threat and hit Israel. This will be the culmination of all out assault on the non-Moslem world which began in 1979 with the Iranian hostage crisis. Such madness is not concerned with retaliation which will surely come after much wringing of hands by the West. After all, in their eyes, it was ordained by Allah.

Iran, North Korea, and Sonia Sotomayor: A Political Potpourri

Rather than focus on one central topic as we usually do, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at three events happening around the world, and where better to start than Iran?

Iran and I Lost: Tehran Gone Wild

With the conclusion of the recent presidential elections in Iran on June 12, ultra conservative religious clerics have assured the Iranian people that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad soundly defeated moderate Mir Hossein Mousavi fairly and squarely. As proof of the convincing reelection results, the Supreme Council of ruling clerics has cut off all outside communication with the world as the military beats and murders its protesting population into submission through rubber bullets, teargas, and other forms of “aggressive crowd modification devices” while allowing only partial recount. However, those pesky protesters who insist only something as trivial as an honest election have been using cell and picture phones, twitter, laptops, and every technological means at their disposal to get the word out that not only did Ahmadinejad lose the election, but that they are sick and tired of the oppressive hard line religious rule.

The question now is what will happen to Iran? Will any of the other nations recognize this electoral farce? Will the current crackdown result in another revolution, hopefully for a more moderate and progressive Iran? Certainly Ahmadinejad and the ruling religious zealots won’t go voluntarily, even when the people peacefully rejected the current administration at the polls. If Ahmadinejad remains in power, he may realize that his time is short. That may force him into a corner and cause him to move forward with developing his nuclear capability. If that should happen, Israel may be forced to remove them since Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel’s utter annihilation (and America’s afterward). For people like this, international sanctions mean nothing, and I seriously doubt Obama has the backbone to act first.

Midget Amuck

Speaking of oppressive hardliners, the dinky despot of North Korea is at it again. This time, Kim Jong II is testing another long range missile, but this time it’s aimed at Hawaii. The last time, as some of you may remember, Kim launched a missile directed at Japan (The Japanese have had some bad experiences with things nuclear and tend to get a little edgy). So, what is this nutcase with the bad haircut trying to do? My guess is that Kim is using these missile launches and the threat of a nuclear strike as a bullying tool directed at the West. In the past, Kim Jong II has used threats of developing and deploying medium and long range missiles with nuclear capability in order to get the West to “buy him off”. It’s nothing more than the old extortion racket of the Mob except on a global scale.

If he agrees to, let’s say, shut down a reactor, the West gives so many billions of dollars in food and aid to prop up his financially bankrupt nation of another six months or so. Once that’s used up, he does something else to threaten the West with unless we bail him out again. The trouble is that the West has paid his extortion terms in the past, and so now the paranoid pipsqueak thinks the West is responsible for keeping his regime afloat. Instead of a North Korean GNP (Gross National Product), we now have North Korean GNE (Gross National Extortion). Never ever negotiate with or back down from bullies boys and girls. The West needs to find some North Koreans who’ve had enough of seeing their country flushed down the proverbial toilet and who would be willing back a coup against this nutcase before it’s too late. The people of both Koreas deserve better.

Justice? We Don’t Need Any Stinking Justice.

I recently read an article that said Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is a member of La Raza (which translates to “The Race”), an organization devoted to creating an independent Hispanic country out of the American Southwest. La Raza believes that most of these states were “stolen” from Mexico, and its their duty is to either reclaim them for Mexico or to recreate a mythological nation called Aztlan under what is referred to as “reconquesta” or “reconquest” (for more information, I recommend visiting these two sites: http://www.limitstogrowth.org/WEB-text/aztlan.html and (http://www.mayorno.com/WhoIsMecha.html). To put this in better perspective, it would like a White person belonging to the KKK or a Black individual being a member of the Black Panthers and being nominated for Supreme Court Judge.

Additionally, Ms. Sotomayor was quoted as saying “a Latina, based on her experiences, would reach a better conclusion than a White male judge”. One could assume this would also include a Black or Asian as well. Somehow, I can’t see a White, Asian, or Black nominee getting away with saying the same thing can you? The Rule of Law does not care about race, age, physical disability, religion, gender or sexual orientation. It cares only about equality based upon fact of law. The person, regardless of any other outside factors like their race or gender that is best able to exhibit that ability should be considered for judge. Anything else is political grandstanding.

Book Review

Doug Stanton has written the gripping true story of American Special Forces fighting against and sometimes along side Afghan warlords in their hunt for the Taliban in what can only be described as the Wild West meets High Tech in his bestseller, “Horse Soldiers”. I remember when this story first broke a few years ago. I followed it closely on Fox News and CNN with both pride and fascination as I watched US Special Forces units, along with a host of colorful and often deadly array of individuals battling the Taliban from the air, ground, and on horseback as they transverse some of the most beautiful and inhospitable land on the planet.

Doug Stanton has done a wonderful job of relating their stories. Written from the perspectives of those who participated, “Horse Soldiers” provides outstanding examples of how to merge the high tech of today’s military with the needs of the mission, which in some cases, required US troops to take a backseat to the egos of Afghanistan’s ruling warlords who, without their assistance, we stood no chance of success. What I personally enjoyed the most as former military, was that in writing the book, Stanton doesn’t allow himself to get in the way of those telling the story, namely those who took on and fought the Taliban a some journalist do. Kudos to Stanton!

I can easily see this book becoming required reading at any of our nation’s military academies. As I commented to friend of mine recently, “Horse Soldiers” is like a Tom Clancy novel, only this is real! So, if you’re someone who is interested in the war on terrorism or simply enjoy high adventure, this book is for you.

Poll Results

Our last poll dealt with the issue of allowing multiple languages to be used in taking drivers exams. We had addressed how Kentucky Governor reversed his decision to required English only exams, and instead, to allow up to 22 languages to be used in taking the exam. An overwhelming 67% of you thought it was alright while a valiant 32% thought English only was the way to go. Personally, I believed this not only is it a waste of taxpayer money, which is desperately need for other services, it also says to those who don’t speak English that we will always make exceptions and the American Taxpayer must adapt to their needs at our costs. That to me is wrong on so many levels. It also creates a dangerous situation in that without understanding the language, how does one read the signs posted along the highway like “Left lane must merged in 10 miles” or “Congested area ahead. Reduce Speed”? Of course, I’m sure these with be posted in all 22 languages at taxpayer expense as well. As for speaking with other drivers or the police officer who just pulled them over, well we can only hope that a translator is on call somewhere.