I am baffled by the fact that we are not focused on the great fortune that the enemy we are fighting in Iraq, being jointly fueled by Islamic extremists from Iran, Iraq, The Kingdom, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Palestine,and other Muslim brothers, is being fought almost entirely on the soil of Iraq. Our forces are fighting the equivalent of multiple wars, with multiple countries, on one consolidated soil. If we had cleaned up Iraq without any third party insurgency interference ..... we would have already rolled into Syria, and Iran remains a daunting target.
Yet, we have accomplished the perfect Sun Tsu maneuver, by drawing the enemy in. He is on the move to us, he is the guerilla fighter with limited resources being fueled by a cadre of crude weapons and a venomous tongue. The cost in human lives continues to be so very high, but fractional against one, two or three more 9/11 days on our soul. If we had the equivalent of 3 9/11 days on our soul, we would see nearly 10,000 souls die in three days. Weighed against the losses from the onset of our war against the enemy, we are very much in the black.
The members of congress calling, wailing, for withdrawal of our troops, all appear as if deer in the headlights, as if personally being blackmailed or held hostage by al Qaeda.
Do we stay in Iraq? Complete the task of multiple wars, or trip on the 15 yard line? Or do we gently, nicely, and complacently bend to the will of the fearful with political agendas for spines?
It is obvious that the ridiculous, risky and self-serving debate is a cornerstone for 2008. Fader for the firing line when the liberals won't have a platform, and will instead turn to the Kerry/Dean/Hollywood strategy for winning. Assault, assault, lie, lie, lie, confuse, repetitively utilize disinformation and aim at the character and competency of the opponent.
The Iraq war withdrawal debate, or battle as we saw this last week, appears nothing more than the tossing of the gauntlet to let the "Rice" games begin. Her war as much as it is W's. And thus, they must attack it at the core, the mission, the purpose and for its cost lest is become her cornerstone.
Let the tongue wigglers make their utterances. They are mumbles and I do not understand them. They must learn to speak in a coherent language so that I can understand them. If not, I must remind them when they speak, that I do not understand them for they are nothing more the mumbles. (A line borrowed from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). They will only be empowered if we provide the fuel.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Trusting a Man in a Skirt - O
As Americans prepare for the arrival of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, it is notable the Prince of Wales will try to persuade the President of the merits of Islam during his 8 day visit to the US.
Speaking at a meeting with senior Muslim leaders in November 2001, Prince Charles said that he thinks the United States has been too intolerant of the religion. In his address to the group, which included Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Bar, Sir Iqbal Sacrani, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, and Hashir Faruqi, the chief editor of Impact International, an Islamic affairs magazine, the Prince also spoke of his sympathy for America, but went on to state that he wanted to promote better relations between the different religions of the world.
Prince Charles, who will be making his first official foreign tour since his marriage to the Duchess of Cornwall, wants Americans - including Mr. Bush - to share his fondness for Islam. His agenda while in the US includes attendance of a seminar on religions at Georgetown University, Washington, examining how faith groups can alleviate social problems in their community.
Perhaps religious tolerance was not on the minds of the Muslim attackers of three teenage Christian girls who were beheaded and a fourth who was seriously wounded in the Indonesian province of Central Sulawesi. The girls were ambushed while walking through a cocoa plantation in Poso Kota subdistrict on their way to class. The heads of the three dead victims were found several kilometres from their bodies.
Perhaps this beheadings are a sacred ritual, will be condoned by the Prince, because he considers all things holy duing the month of Ramadan. Central Sulawesi has a roughly equal number of Muslims and Christians. The province was the scene of a bloody religious war in 2001-2002 that killed around 1000 people with beheadings, burnings and other atrocities common events.
Since the earlier religious wars there have been a series of bomb attacks and assassinations of Christians. One of the most recent being a bomb blast at a market in Poso, a predominantly Christian town, that killed 22 people in May. The Christian-Muslim conflict is an extension of a wider sectarian war emanating in the nearby Maluku in which up to 9000 were killed between 1999 and 2002.
Prince Charles made it clear in 1994 that when he became Supreme Governor of the Church of England, he would rather be "defender of faiths" than "defender of the faith".
In his acclaimed speech, revered throughout the Arab world, on relations between Islam and the West, he urged the West to overcome its "unthinkable prejudices" about Islam and its customs and laws. During his speech he also said, "Extremism is no more the monopoly of Islam than it is the monopoly of other religions, including Christianity."
Bravo, arms open, we welcome his Majesty and remember, the Cole, The World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the bombing of US Embassies in East Africa in 1998, the bombing of the World Trade Center in 2001, the bombing of the Pentagon in 2001, the train bombings in Spain, the recent terrorist bomb attacks in London, and India. We can also extol his sentiments for religious tolerance on the heals of Iran’s proclamation that Israel should be wiped from the face of the earth.
The problem with religious tolerance when dealing with killers in the name of religion is that when you turn the other cheek, they will cut off your ear, stab your eye and then cut off your head.
Speaking at a meeting with senior Muslim leaders in November 2001, Prince Charles said that he thinks the United States has been too intolerant of the religion. In his address to the group, which included Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Bar, Sir Iqbal Sacrani, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, and Hashir Faruqi, the chief editor of Impact International, an Islamic affairs magazine, the Prince also spoke of his sympathy for America, but went on to state that he wanted to promote better relations between the different religions of the world.
Prince Charles, who will be making his first official foreign tour since his marriage to the Duchess of Cornwall, wants Americans - including Mr. Bush - to share his fondness for Islam. His agenda while in the US includes attendance of a seminar on religions at Georgetown University, Washington, examining how faith groups can alleviate social problems in their community.
Perhaps religious tolerance was not on the minds of the Muslim attackers of three teenage Christian girls who were beheaded and a fourth who was seriously wounded in the Indonesian province of Central Sulawesi. The girls were ambushed while walking through a cocoa plantation in Poso Kota subdistrict on their way to class. The heads of the three dead victims were found several kilometres from their bodies.
Perhaps this beheadings are a sacred ritual, will be condoned by the Prince, because he considers all things holy duing the month of Ramadan. Central Sulawesi has a roughly equal number of Muslims and Christians. The province was the scene of a bloody religious war in 2001-2002 that killed around 1000 people with beheadings, burnings and other atrocities common events.
Since the earlier religious wars there have been a series of bomb attacks and assassinations of Christians. One of the most recent being a bomb blast at a market in Poso, a predominantly Christian town, that killed 22 people in May. The Christian-Muslim conflict is an extension of a wider sectarian war emanating in the nearby Maluku in which up to 9000 were killed between 1999 and 2002.
Prince Charles made it clear in 1994 that when he became Supreme Governor of the Church of England, he would rather be "defender of faiths" than "defender of the faith".
In his acclaimed speech, revered throughout the Arab world, on relations between Islam and the West, he urged the West to overcome its "unthinkable prejudices" about Islam and its customs and laws. During his speech he also said, "Extremism is no more the monopoly of Islam than it is the monopoly of other religions, including Christianity."
Bravo, arms open, we welcome his Majesty and remember, the Cole, The World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the bombing of US Embassies in East Africa in 1998, the bombing of the World Trade Center in 2001, the bombing of the Pentagon in 2001, the train bombings in Spain, the recent terrorist bomb attacks in London, and India. We can also extol his sentiments for religious tolerance on the heals of Iran’s proclamation that Israel should be wiped from the face of the earth.
The problem with religious tolerance when dealing with killers in the name of religion is that when you turn the other cheek, they will cut off your ear, stab your eye and then cut off your head.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Four Years Later - O
Global Warning v Global Warming … what the heck, I say, sure we all just need to calm down here and face the facts that the United States did not cause hurricane Katrina or the Tsunami because we do not address the alleged global warming impending crisis. I know it would be nice to make it true and it would be easy to accept that we bombed our own Twin Towers, but so sorry, dear readers, it just ain’t so.
No, Oprah did it. She ate, she got fat, she emitted too much methane, she lost weight, shedding her DNA into the atmosphere and then she ate fresh fruit (picked by illegal immigrants with very dirty hands who also defecated and urinated recycled germs into the fields – more methane) finally, she exercised excessively thus exhaling too much C02. Forgetaboutit, no one will ever admit the truth ….too bad.
Look at Al Gore, fat! Bill Clinton, fat and now thin! Point the finger at Richard Simmons, the fat killer himself … how many fat cruises has he sponsored??? Fat, flatulence and methane are the Global Warmers … and the beached whales are the warners, brother, if we've ever had them.
I am not picking on fat, just pointing out the facts on fat. Fat causes global warming, so if we are going to point fingers we need to get down with the source code. No need to get all up in the air about the cheap shot at the illegals. Of course they are picking crops … we have it on great authority that no one else will do the job, right big Fox? And there is no indoor plumbing in the cabbage patch. Thus, dirty hands and open elimination of all things wasteful and disgraceful.
I am tired of being part of the reason for all things wrong, I don’t even live on Saturn and her rings have changed shape and position. Who did that? George Bush or Condi Rice? Come on people, Iraq is keeping all the oil revenues, and George Soros controls the oil hedge funds, who is being kidded here? Moveon.org to another subject.
This all started at a dinner party tonight when some foreigner defended the Astrodome resident’s rights to buy drugs with their government money because Katrina was caused by the United States and now we (All Americans) have to pay for it. I had to leave before I ate any cake, which is actually a good thing .. all about the fat and fumes.
Too bad we are remembering 9/11/01 today …. And people are still trying to make it all about how bad we are. Wait, all those people at the party are here! Why would they want to live among the killers of thousands and destroyers of the planet? What was wrong with their country?
Something is very queer here.
Four years later.
No, Oprah did it. She ate, she got fat, she emitted too much methane, she lost weight, shedding her DNA into the atmosphere and then she ate fresh fruit (picked by illegal immigrants with very dirty hands who also defecated and urinated recycled germs into the fields – more methane) finally, she exercised excessively thus exhaling too much C02. Forgetaboutit, no one will ever admit the truth ….too bad.
Look at Al Gore, fat! Bill Clinton, fat and now thin! Point the finger at Richard Simmons, the fat killer himself … how many fat cruises has he sponsored??? Fat, flatulence and methane are the Global Warmers … and the beached whales are the warners, brother, if we've ever had them.
I am not picking on fat, just pointing out the facts on fat. Fat causes global warming, so if we are going to point fingers we need to get down with the source code. No need to get all up in the air about the cheap shot at the illegals. Of course they are picking crops … we have it on great authority that no one else will do the job, right big Fox? And there is no indoor plumbing in the cabbage patch. Thus, dirty hands and open elimination of all things wasteful and disgraceful.
I am tired of being part of the reason for all things wrong, I don’t even live on Saturn and her rings have changed shape and position. Who did that? George Bush or Condi Rice? Come on people, Iraq is keeping all the oil revenues, and George Soros controls the oil hedge funds, who is being kidded here? Moveon.org to another subject.
This all started at a dinner party tonight when some foreigner defended the Astrodome resident’s rights to buy drugs with their government money because Katrina was caused by the United States and now we (All Americans) have to pay for it. I had to leave before I ate any cake, which is actually a good thing .. all about the fat and fumes.
Too bad we are remembering 9/11/01 today …. And people are still trying to make it all about how bad we are. Wait, all those people at the party are here! Why would they want to live among the killers of thousands and destroyers of the planet? What was wrong with their country?
Something is very queer here.
Four years later.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Sean Penn be quiet! - O
Dateline 5 September 2005 – Today is my birthday and I am going to indulge myself. Not in cake and ice cream or even with a strong martini. Nope, I crave something far more delicious than the momentary passing of libation over my lips. I crave a response to the irrational statements made by the simple minded, pee-brained entertainers who have stepped up to the microphone and TV cameras, again, with reactions to Katrina and with disconnected recommendations to the government.
I wish to begin with Mr. Sean Penn. Is it appropriate to start with his arrest record, or his history of substance abuse and violent outbursts? Would it be fair to assess his expertise in search and rescue methods based on his level of education or experience as an elected public servant or government appointee? I suspect that paddling a sinking motorized boat along the flooded streets of New Orleans, with a personal photographer and large entourage onboard would, in certain circles, be considered brilliant and effective aid to the victims. The picture of the water being bailed from the boat with a small red cup by Mr. Penn deserves Time Magazine “Man Of the Year” consideration. My goodness, as a result of his ineptness, the motor did not work, because the boat had a not been properly secured. How could one not admire his courage and determination? May I never forget the picture of Mr. Penn floating from flooded house to flooded house, claiming that if America was not invested militarily in Iraq, we would be able to deal with the evacuations and rescues. As the National Guard, US Coast Guard, NOPD rescues were wrapping up, Penn claimed to be one of the only boats involved in rescues .... Hummmmm, I forgot, how many stars on his uniform?
And what about that Celine Dion? Up there on CNN Larry King Live, quacking like a duck about her near inability to sing as a result of what she witnessed seeing on the TV. The poor little dope was not able to process the fact that people are so poor that they don’t have cars or money for basic transportation. No doubt they spent their last chump change on her latest CDs.
But, leave nothing to the imagination, Oprah did show up to see the Houston rescue center. Yes, Ms. Opratunity herself showed up to let the people know that they are being remembered. Maybe she will arrange for more poverty stricken people to receive cars on which they can not afford the tax, and therefore will of necessity, decline the gift. The gift from her, at a cost to her of zero dollars. I feel a Harpo Production in the making.
Sean, Celine and Oprah are only a few of the GED candidates screaming that George Bush did not do enough nor did react quickly enough for the lame, blamers in Hollywood. There are apparently over 134,000 extremely poor people who have been integrated into other communities as a result of the devastation in New Orleans. NBC supported the President's being accused by some low life rapper named, Kanye, claiming that George Bush does not care about black people. The inference implicates everyone involved in the rescue, humanitarian efforts and relocations. Please put on the race breaks.
I cannot find an appropriate response. Where have Sean, Celine and Oprah been over the last 20 years? Where have the black entertainers, the black athletes, the black lawyers and doctors been? Why have successful blacks not aggressively helped the poorest black communities for the last 100 years? Why have so many people in one city been allowed to live, for decades, without the means to escape in the event of a disaster? Where was the Mayor? Where were the city officials and what was the Governor’s plan before Katrina hit? Did they not know that thousands of people would need help with evacuations prior to the hurricane hitting land? Of course they did.
Prior to Katrina staff writer Bruce Nolan, with the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE ran a story warning residents: If you stay behind during a big storm, you'll be on your own! He reported some 7 weeks before Katrina: "In scripted appearances being recorded now, officials such as Mayor Ray Nagin, local Red Cross Executive Director Kay Wilkins and City Council President Oliver Thomas drive home the word that the city does not have the resources to move out of harm's way an estimated 134,000 people without transportation."
Blaming George Bush, FEMA, Homeland Security you or me for that matter is pedantic, useless and crazy. Without our government aid hundreds of thousands of souls who were at greatest risk would not have their government subsidized housing, welfare or Medicare. Hollywood did not relocate hundreds of thousands of poor people to communities willing and able to continue supporting them, caring for them and offering them additional aid.
What motivates the brainless, undeserving, millionaire entertainers to attack the hand feeding the very people they have done nothing to help in 100 years? What are the lucky entertainers doing to help unlucky people living in absolute poverty? Can Sean and Celine and Oprah buy some homes, move a few families in and commit to supporting them for the next 20-30 years?
The natural disaster along the gulf coast requires the minds of reasonable people doing extraordinary things to stabilize the situation as our nation rebuilds and repairs lives and communities. There is no time for the insane antics and theatrics of publicity hungry entertainers exploiting the misfortunes of hundreds of thousands of people for the sake of 15 minutes in the dimming light from a fading candle.
I wish to begin with Mr. Sean Penn. Is it appropriate to start with his arrest record, or his history of substance abuse and violent outbursts? Would it be fair to assess his expertise in search and rescue methods based on his level of education or experience as an elected public servant or government appointee? I suspect that paddling a sinking motorized boat along the flooded streets of New Orleans, with a personal photographer and large entourage onboard would, in certain circles, be considered brilliant and effective aid to the victims. The picture of the water being bailed from the boat with a small red cup by Mr. Penn deserves Time Magazine “Man Of the Year” consideration. My goodness, as a result of his ineptness, the motor did not work, because the boat had a not been properly secured. How could one not admire his courage and determination? May I never forget the picture of Mr. Penn floating from flooded house to flooded house, claiming that if America was not invested militarily in Iraq, we would be able to deal with the evacuations and rescues. As the National Guard, US Coast Guard, NOPD rescues were wrapping up, Penn claimed to be one of the only boats involved in rescues .... Hummmmm, I forgot, how many stars on his uniform?
And what about that Celine Dion? Up there on CNN Larry King Live, quacking like a duck about her near inability to sing as a result of what she witnessed seeing on the TV. The poor little dope was not able to process the fact that people are so poor that they don’t have cars or money for basic transportation. No doubt they spent their last chump change on her latest CDs.
But, leave nothing to the imagination, Oprah did show up to see the Houston rescue center. Yes, Ms. Opratunity herself showed up to let the people know that they are being remembered. Maybe she will arrange for more poverty stricken people to receive cars on which they can not afford the tax, and therefore will of necessity, decline the gift. The gift from her, at a cost to her of zero dollars. I feel a Harpo Production in the making.
Sean, Celine and Oprah are only a few of the GED candidates screaming that George Bush did not do enough nor did react quickly enough for the lame, blamers in Hollywood. There are apparently over 134,000 extremely poor people who have been integrated into other communities as a result of the devastation in New Orleans. NBC supported the President's being accused by some low life rapper named, Kanye, claiming that George Bush does not care about black people. The inference implicates everyone involved in the rescue, humanitarian efforts and relocations. Please put on the race breaks.
I cannot find an appropriate response. Where have Sean, Celine and Oprah been over the last 20 years? Where have the black entertainers, the black athletes, the black lawyers and doctors been? Why have successful blacks not aggressively helped the poorest black communities for the last 100 years? Why have so many people in one city been allowed to live, for decades, without the means to escape in the event of a disaster? Where was the Mayor? Where were the city officials and what was the Governor’s plan before Katrina hit? Did they not know that thousands of people would need help with evacuations prior to the hurricane hitting land? Of course they did.
Prior to Katrina staff writer Bruce Nolan, with the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE ran a story warning residents: If you stay behind during a big storm, you'll be on your own! He reported some 7 weeks before Katrina: "In scripted appearances being recorded now, officials such as Mayor Ray Nagin, local Red Cross Executive Director Kay Wilkins and City Council President Oliver Thomas drive home the word that the city does not have the resources to move out of harm's way an estimated 134,000 people without transportation."
Blaming George Bush, FEMA, Homeland Security you or me for that matter is pedantic, useless and crazy. Without our government aid hundreds of thousands of souls who were at greatest risk would not have their government subsidized housing, welfare or Medicare. Hollywood did not relocate hundreds of thousands of poor people to communities willing and able to continue supporting them, caring for them and offering them additional aid.
What motivates the brainless, undeserving, millionaire entertainers to attack the hand feeding the very people they have done nothing to help in 100 years? What are the lucky entertainers doing to help unlucky people living in absolute poverty? Can Sean and Celine and Oprah buy some homes, move a few families in and commit to supporting them for the next 20-30 years?
The natural disaster along the gulf coast requires the minds of reasonable people doing extraordinary things to stabilize the situation as our nation rebuilds and repairs lives and communities. There is no time for the insane antics and theatrics of publicity hungry entertainers exploiting the misfortunes of hundreds of thousands of people for the sake of 15 minutes in the dimming light from a fading candle.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
The Cost to Defend Against Freedom Thieves - O
Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our society. There is a somewhat cathartic irony when reading and following Cindy Sheehan's journey, claimed over the grieving of her son. Cindy enjoys a society so completely open that a formerly obscure woman can squat on land adjacent to our President's Texas home, garnering media attention, as if she were celebrity or recognized diplomat. Her beautiful child died defending the freedom's required for her 15 minutes of fame. She boldly stands shameless in her claim of glitter and spotlight otherwise unavailable to her.
How marvelous that our open society is able to witness, first hand, her grief unfold. As it does, she appears to be experiencing an apparent savant like understanding of geopolitical strategic planning and Sun Tsu like wisdom.
Mystically crowds have gathered in support of Cindy as she kisses newly arriving strangers in a manner reserved, in polite company, for intimate friends. And now, the ranks or wannabe ranks of Hollywood have weighed in for another good measure of simplistic wisdom.
Christine Lahti, the 50 something fading star, has surfaced like recovered pieces of a shipwreck. Perhaps her role as Rose in Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman (2004) has become her own reality. In fact, while slightly past the middle age range, Miss Lahti would offer prescience as she claims to know that President Bush is scared shitless of Cindy Sheehan.
How do we comfort them? How can we bring them home from their delusional roadside chirpings? Perhaps theirs and others who have joined them are better left to vent and rant at will as daily witness to the fact that the defense of our nation, our freedom and our future will come today and tomorrow at a monumental cost. The final cost will be determined, not within our lives or our children or grandchildren's lives. The cost of freedom will be paid each day an open society must defend against the thieves of freedom.
It would be heartless and impossible to ignore Mrs. Sheehan's loss and grief, but not impossible to question her motives, and her willingness to leverage her quilt for a misguided counterproductive end.
Susan Moses
---------------------------
SUNDAY • AUGUST 14, 2005
*BUSH PROTESTING MOM CALLS FOR 'ISRAEL OUT OF PALESTINE'; VOWS NOT TO PAY TAXES: Anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq, is calling for Bush's "impeachment," and for Israel to get out of Palestine! "You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism," Sheehan declares. Sheehan, who is asking for a second meeting with President Bush, says defiantly: "My son was killed in 2004. I am not paying my taxes for 2004. You killed my son, George Bush, and I don't owe you a penny...you give my son back and I'll pay my taxes. Come after me (for back taxes) and we'll put this war on trial." "And now I'm going to use another 'I' word - impeachment - because we cannot have these people pardoned. They need to be tried on war crimes and go to jail." The 48-year-old California mom remains tented up in a ditch along the one-lane road that leads to Bush's Texas ranch. As her protest entered its second week, hundreds of people with conflicting opinions about the war in Iraq descended on the area. Time mag reports in new editions on Monday: Sheehan gets support from her surviving son, Andy, in principle, but he recently sent her a long e-mail imploring her, "to come home because you need to support us at home."
-----------
*LBN-POLITICAL BRIEFING by Christine Lahti: Cindy Sheehan is my hero. She is the hero of all Americans who make up the 62% of us who oppose this war. As an American exercising her right to free speech, she is a brave, passionate, living example of democracy, and she has the undeniable force and the moral authority of a grieving mother. Being a mother of three, I can't even imagine the depths of the grief she must feel having lost her son in this horrific war. But I can imagine that her grief and rage -- her demand for justice and action -- is a force that is unstoppable. No wonder Bush is intimidated. No wonder he can't even walk down his driveway. He is scared shitless. Whether he acknowledges it or not -- whether his aides try to insulate him from the truth or not -- his hands are covered in the blood of Cindy Sheehan's son.
The above were found in the Late Breaking News online bulletin:lbnelert@earthlink.net
-----------------------------
How marvelous that our open society is able to witness, first hand, her grief unfold. As it does, she appears to be experiencing an apparent savant like understanding of geopolitical strategic planning and Sun Tsu like wisdom.
Mystically crowds have gathered in support of Cindy as she kisses newly arriving strangers in a manner reserved, in polite company, for intimate friends. And now, the ranks or wannabe ranks of Hollywood have weighed in for another good measure of simplistic wisdom.
Christine Lahti, the 50 something fading star, has surfaced like recovered pieces of a shipwreck. Perhaps her role as Rose in Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman (2004) has become her own reality. In fact, while slightly past the middle age range, Miss Lahti would offer prescience as she claims to know that President Bush is scared shitless of Cindy Sheehan.
How do we comfort them? How can we bring them home from their delusional roadside chirpings? Perhaps theirs and others who have joined them are better left to vent and rant at will as daily witness to the fact that the defense of our nation, our freedom and our future will come today and tomorrow at a monumental cost. The final cost will be determined, not within our lives or our children or grandchildren's lives. The cost of freedom will be paid each day an open society must defend against the thieves of freedom.
It would be heartless and impossible to ignore Mrs. Sheehan's loss and grief, but not impossible to question her motives, and her willingness to leverage her quilt for a misguided counterproductive end.
Susan Moses
---------------------------
SUNDAY • AUGUST 14, 2005
*BUSH PROTESTING MOM CALLS FOR 'ISRAEL OUT OF PALESTINE'; VOWS NOT TO PAY TAXES: Anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq, is calling for Bush's "impeachment," and for Israel to get out of Palestine! "You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism," Sheehan declares. Sheehan, who is asking for a second meeting with President Bush, says defiantly: "My son was killed in 2004. I am not paying my taxes for 2004. You killed my son, George Bush, and I don't owe you a penny...you give my son back and I'll pay my taxes. Come after me (for back taxes) and we'll put this war on trial." "And now I'm going to use another 'I' word - impeachment - because we cannot have these people pardoned. They need to be tried on war crimes and go to jail." The 48-year-old California mom remains tented up in a ditch along the one-lane road that leads to Bush's Texas ranch. As her protest entered its second week, hundreds of people with conflicting opinions about the war in Iraq descended on the area. Time mag reports in new editions on Monday: Sheehan gets support from her surviving son, Andy, in principle, but he recently sent her a long e-mail imploring her, "to come home because you need to support us at home."
-----------
*LBN-POLITICAL BRIEFING by Christine Lahti: Cindy Sheehan is my hero. She is the hero of all Americans who make up the 62% of us who oppose this war. As an American exercising her right to free speech, she is a brave, passionate, living example of democracy, and she has the undeniable force and the moral authority of a grieving mother. Being a mother of three, I can't even imagine the depths of the grief she must feel having lost her son in this horrific war. But I can imagine that her grief and rage -- her demand for justice and action -- is a force that is unstoppable. No wonder Bush is intimidated. No wonder he can't even walk down his driveway. He is scared shitless. Whether he acknowledges it or not -- whether his aides try to insulate him from the truth or not -- his hands are covered in the blood of Cindy Sheehan's son.
The above were found in the Late Breaking News online bulletin:lbnelert@earthlink.net
-----------------------------
Monday, August 01, 2005
The Bus Bitch! - O
Every actor’s greatest fear is obscurity. The day they are not acknowledged for“something” their fragile egos crack like Humpty Dumpty’s eggshell, and often there is no putting it all back together again.
Jane who?
The aging Missy is fighting hard to counter the truth she sees in her own mirror. Her vacuous shell of a body is unrecognizable to her as it fads into obscurity. She does not have a famous or powerful husband to afford her spotlight. Her veiled apology over her treasonous Viet Nam war activities fell on deaf ears, translating to lack luster book sales. Now she is working from a position of weakness by attempting to garner what little spotlight she can muster.Her final desperate act will have little or no impact on what America or the world thinks.
The final piece of luck remaining for this heinous wretch is that she never played lover to a Kennedy, so alas she continues to breathe. Perhaps oxygen will become her nemesis when she can no longer face the truth reflected from her own mirror.
Thank God for our freedom of speech, for without it the idiots would be more difficult to identify.
Jane who?
The aging Missy is fighting hard to counter the truth she sees in her own mirror. Her vacuous shell of a body is unrecognizable to her as it fads into obscurity. She does not have a famous or powerful husband to afford her spotlight. Her veiled apology over her treasonous Viet Nam war activities fell on deaf ears, translating to lack luster book sales. Now she is working from a position of weakness by attempting to garner what little spotlight she can muster.Her final desperate act will have little or no impact on what America or the world thinks.
The final piece of luck remaining for this heinous wretch is that she never played lover to a Kennedy, so alas she continues to breathe. Perhaps oxygen will become her nemesis when she can no longer face the truth reflected from her own mirror.
Thank God for our freedom of speech, for without it the idiots would be more difficult to identify.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
L'extrémité est près de mes amis - O
"Fin de regne" for Chirac, apparently too much cheese! Lessons, lessons. Oh the joy of living long enough to see life's sweet justice. Perhaps the French have finally had enough of the domestic consequence of acquiescing to evil extremist's demands.
They are quickly turning on Chirac as his POLLS are dropping like the turd he is. The liberal press must take another opened eye to consequences, because ultimately people will grow tired of the promises of more, when the result is more sacrifice, more struggle, more economic losses. Herald, the Soviet Union no more!
The soon to be Islamic Republic of France is on the verge of its own crisis and where are the media whores to cover the catastrophe? Sucking up to Robert Redford who would use his vast experience and education to demand that journalists investigate the Bush administration for its "Watergate like" activities. Not even George Soros can save him, but then George is busy trying to drive the world oil markets into disaster. Alas, another genius at work.
Perhaps with luck the Grim Reaper will bring a just end for Chirac before he suffers the kind of slow, painful political death meant only for the most worthless pieces of human waste.
May he endure long suffering for every tear shed by families who have lost ones in Iraq as a result of his refusal to share in the human and financial costs of the war. That he should pay dearly for each Iraqi family who has suffered as a result of his deals with Saddam would be too kind. Each of his last days should justifiably reflect the injustice he caused by his words and actions against our nation and government.
Even yesterday as he boldly struck his blows against England with his unkind remarks and mean spirited jokes, Karma has taken him into its sights and again, we cheer,
"Fin de regne" for Chirac.
They are quickly turning on Chirac as his POLLS are dropping like the turd he is. The liberal press must take another opened eye to consequences, because ultimately people will grow tired of the promises of more, when the result is more sacrifice, more struggle, more economic losses. Herald, the Soviet Union no more!
The soon to be Islamic Republic of France is on the verge of its own crisis and where are the media whores to cover the catastrophe? Sucking up to Robert Redford who would use his vast experience and education to demand that journalists investigate the Bush administration for its "Watergate like" activities. Not even George Soros can save him, but then George is busy trying to drive the world oil markets into disaster. Alas, another genius at work.
Perhaps with luck the Grim Reaper will bring a just end for Chirac before he suffers the kind of slow, painful political death meant only for the most worthless pieces of human waste.
May he endure long suffering for every tear shed by families who have lost ones in Iraq as a result of his refusal to share in the human and financial costs of the war. That he should pay dearly for each Iraqi family who has suffered as a result of his deals with Saddam would be too kind. Each of his last days should justifiably reflect the injustice he caused by his words and actions against our nation and government.
Even yesterday as he boldly struck his blows against England with his unkind remarks and mean spirited jokes, Karma has taken him into its sights and again, we cheer,
"Fin de regne" for Chirac.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Conversion Perversion - O
Will the lastest European religious conversion trends infect teens in the US? I had drinks with a colleague from Europe last night. His company co-finances large film projects from funds available throughout the EU. That is important to this note, because it establishes the foundation for his access to the events impacting societies within each of the EU countries. He regularly travels to the EU countries meeting with banks, government funds ministers and private investors. His access is to and with the socially elite, their children and their families.
The most striking aspect of our conversation was wrapped around his observation that there are increasing numbers of European teens converting to Islam, in particular, young women. It appears that the mystique of the testosterone, Muslim, radical male has become the GQ man for the insatiable fantasies of the German, French, and Dutch females. Head covers are popping up all over with claims of absolute devotion to the dark mysterious men who have lured them into the growing family of global Islam.
The Beatles, long hair, punk rock, Twiggy, skinny models and fashion trends came to the US from Europe. The Q-? of the day is whether or not this “conversion perversion” will make its way into mainstream America. One could conclude, as we witness the daily, aggressive challenges to the God based core of our own foundation, that the template is being etched for just such a movement to take its hold on our society. I can’t wait for Bebe, Versace, and DKNY to bring the Burka fashion statement onto the runways and onto the covers of major fashion magazines. It may be the long awaited solution to female pattern balding.
The most striking aspect of our conversation was wrapped around his observation that there are increasing numbers of European teens converting to Islam, in particular, young women. It appears that the mystique of the testosterone, Muslim, radical male has become the GQ man for the insatiable fantasies of the German, French, and Dutch females. Head covers are popping up all over with claims of absolute devotion to the dark mysterious men who have lured them into the growing family of global Islam.
The Beatles, long hair, punk rock, Twiggy, skinny models and fashion trends came to the US from Europe. The Q-? of the day is whether or not this “conversion perversion” will make its way into mainstream America. One could conclude, as we witness the daily, aggressive challenges to the God based core of our own foundation, that the template is being etched for just such a movement to take its hold on our society. I can’t wait for Bebe, Versace, and DKNY to bring the Burka fashion statement onto the runways and onto the covers of major fashion magazines. It may be the long awaited solution to female pattern balding.
Monday, February 07, 2005
The Thrill of the Kill - O
As I read the article “Intimate Killing” in Washington Times, (BELOW) I formed a mental image of a virtual Pinball machine in which the little balls are media hacks. As the spring driven lever is pulled and one by one the little balls hit the open spaces of the game’s interior, hoping to rack up huge score points, they find that they will spend their time bouncing between a number of strategically positioned obstacles. The obstacles represent things that the little balls love to take issue with but are not big enough to overcome. As a consequence of the encounter between the little balls and the obstacles, the little balls trigger a series of noises, bells and whistles. Finally, the little balls become impotent and roll to safety within the bowels of the game, waiting to be launched again and again, with some expectation of one day bringing down the obstacles, thus making the ultimate career score.
The points raised by Robert H. Scales, author of Intimate Killing, take issue with one such obstacle. Scales, obviously experienced with the thrill of the kill, has taken his own swack at the impotent little balls who have retreated to keyboard sanctuaries to take a swack at an American hero. Reporters making a big deal about comments, made by Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis Bravo Robert, have made a big noise lasting less time than the last gasping breath of the bad men our military are killing.
Any serious shooter knows that the thrill resultant from pulling the trigger is directly connected to the motivation and intention created within the moment. My favorite Christmas Eve daytime activity is to take my arsenal and my kids to a private outdoor range in the high desert near Edwards AFB. While the rest of the world prepares for the phony fat guy in the polyester red suit to arrive, we squeeze off round after round creating a variety of role plays requiring us to be focused on killing some bad person who otherwise, lacking our complete success, would kill us. We love the idea of being able to defend ourselves from bad people. We have fun while we do it.
For those of us not grounded in military experiences, Stallone, Bruce Lee, Arnold, and Clint have given life to some of the baddest good guys cinema has created. The public understands very well that bad guys should die and good guys should win because we can identify with the hero and love it when he wins. We cheer, shout, jump up and generally enjoy it when the bad guy gets killed. I feel pretty confident that most would call the experience of killing the bad guy by proxy, fun.
Susan Moses
Beverly Hills, CA
---------------------------------------------
Washington TimesFebruary 7, 2005 Pg. 19
'Intimate Killing'Close combat and the art of warBy Robert H. Scales
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of moderating a panel on the future of warfare. Marine Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis was one of the panelists. During his remarks he made a statement about the pleasure that young soldiers and marines feel when killing in close combat, a statement that seems to have gotten him in trouble with the fourth estate — prompting an apology and some counseling by the Marine Corps Commandant.First, a confession: I know Gen. Mattis. He is a central figure in the book I coauthored with Williamson Murray, "The Iraq War: A Military History." For those of you who might have the image of a knuckle-dragging troglodyte, let me assure you that he is one of the most urbane and polished men I have known. He can quote Homer as well as Sun Tzu and has over 7,000 books in his personal library.Jim is the product of three decades of schooling and practice in the art of war. No one on active duty knows more about the subject. He is an infantryman, a close-combat Marine. He is one of those very few who willingly practices the art of what social scientists term "intimate killing." Those of us who have engaged in the act understand what he was trying to explain to an audience of defense technologists and contractors.Intimate killing is a primal aspect of warfare unchanged since the beginning of civilization. It involves a clash of two warriors, one on one, armed with virtually identical weapons. The decision goes to the soldier with the right stuff, the one with the greater cunning, strength, guile, ruthlessness and will to win.For a moment put yourself in the place of a young soldier or Marine fighting house to house in the mean streets of Fallujah. Burdened with over 60 pounds of gear, sweat dripping constantly into your face, you can't stop shaking from the fear of what the enemy has in store for you around the next corner. Just ahead is a darkened house with doors and windows closed and shuttered. The only sound is the crunching of your boots on the trash and broken glass as you move in slow motion to surround the dwelling. You watch as the sergeant signals you to cover a side entrance. Through the faint haze you can see your buddy kick in the door and immediately come face to face with an insurgent who greets him with a burst of AK-47 fire that tears a hole in his chest. Your buddy doesn't die. The terrorist wants him to live just long enough for his buddies to rush in for a rescue and become additional trophies to be laid at the altar of heaven.Now, it's your turn. You use your superior discipline and skill to approach the insurgent such that you're detected just at the last second. Both of you raise your weapons simultaneously and open fire in a crushing tear of bullets that scatter and ricochet wildly across the room. One bullet finds the bad guy and he falls in a bloody lump just inches from your boots.What exactly do you "feel" at this moment? Relief, to be sure, but also something else that cannot be explained to anyone who hasn't committed an act of intimate killing. It's not joy, exactly, more like exhilaration and an enormous sense of self-satisfaction that in one of the most primal challenges — where all the satellites, planes, ships and smart weapons are of no use whatever — you prevailed, one on one, over a diabolically evil enemy.Who should be offended by the emotions of "joy" or whatever one feels at the moment of a successful kill? It's a fair fight, you win and the bad guy loses. It's that simple. One more terrorist will not threaten your unit or your buddies. Remember, this isn't a reality show. There are no retakes. Donald Trump doesn't fire you and the price for second place is death.My point simply is this: We must celebrate the fact that we have men like Jim Mattis willing to devote (and give) their lives when necessary to commit an act that most of those in our society would be horrified to even contemplate. If you are offended by these emotions, then seriously consider joining an Army or Marine infantry unit so that you can demonstrate how to kill an enemy in a more humane and politically correct manner.Until such an unlikely day occurs, we must all remember that leaders like Gen. Mattis and the men he commands are the rarest commodities that a protected society like ours can produce. All they want is the opportunity to serve a country that truly appreciates the difficulty and dangers inherent in the duties they perform, duties that very few are willing even to contemplate.
Retired Maj. Robert H. Scales is a former commander of the Army War College.
The points raised by Robert H. Scales, author of Intimate Killing, take issue with one such obstacle. Scales, obviously experienced with the thrill of the kill, has taken his own swack at the impotent little balls who have retreated to keyboard sanctuaries to take a swack at an American hero. Reporters making a big deal about comments, made by Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis Bravo Robert, have made a big noise lasting less time than the last gasping breath of the bad men our military are killing.
Any serious shooter knows that the thrill resultant from pulling the trigger is directly connected to the motivation and intention created within the moment. My favorite Christmas Eve daytime activity is to take my arsenal and my kids to a private outdoor range in the high desert near Edwards AFB. While the rest of the world prepares for the phony fat guy in the polyester red suit to arrive, we squeeze off round after round creating a variety of role plays requiring us to be focused on killing some bad person who otherwise, lacking our complete success, would kill us. We love the idea of being able to defend ourselves from bad people. We have fun while we do it.
For those of us not grounded in military experiences, Stallone, Bruce Lee, Arnold, and Clint have given life to some of the baddest good guys cinema has created. The public understands very well that bad guys should die and good guys should win because we can identify with the hero and love it when he wins. We cheer, shout, jump up and generally enjoy it when the bad guy gets killed. I feel pretty confident that most would call the experience of killing the bad guy by proxy, fun.
Susan Moses
Beverly Hills, CA
---------------------------------------------
Washington TimesFebruary 7, 2005 Pg. 19
'Intimate Killing'Close combat and the art of warBy Robert H. Scales
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of moderating a panel on the future of warfare. Marine Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis was one of the panelists. During his remarks he made a statement about the pleasure that young soldiers and marines feel when killing in close combat, a statement that seems to have gotten him in trouble with the fourth estate — prompting an apology and some counseling by the Marine Corps Commandant.First, a confession: I know Gen. Mattis. He is a central figure in the book I coauthored with Williamson Murray, "The Iraq War: A Military History." For those of you who might have the image of a knuckle-dragging troglodyte, let me assure you that he is one of the most urbane and polished men I have known. He can quote Homer as well as Sun Tzu and has over 7,000 books in his personal library.Jim is the product of three decades of schooling and practice in the art of war. No one on active duty knows more about the subject. He is an infantryman, a close-combat Marine. He is one of those very few who willingly practices the art of what social scientists term "intimate killing." Those of us who have engaged in the act understand what he was trying to explain to an audience of defense technologists and contractors.Intimate killing is a primal aspect of warfare unchanged since the beginning of civilization. It involves a clash of two warriors, one on one, armed with virtually identical weapons. The decision goes to the soldier with the right stuff, the one with the greater cunning, strength, guile, ruthlessness and will to win.For a moment put yourself in the place of a young soldier or Marine fighting house to house in the mean streets of Fallujah. Burdened with over 60 pounds of gear, sweat dripping constantly into your face, you can't stop shaking from the fear of what the enemy has in store for you around the next corner. Just ahead is a darkened house with doors and windows closed and shuttered. The only sound is the crunching of your boots on the trash and broken glass as you move in slow motion to surround the dwelling. You watch as the sergeant signals you to cover a side entrance. Through the faint haze you can see your buddy kick in the door and immediately come face to face with an insurgent who greets him with a burst of AK-47 fire that tears a hole in his chest. Your buddy doesn't die. The terrorist wants him to live just long enough for his buddies to rush in for a rescue and become additional trophies to be laid at the altar of heaven.Now, it's your turn. You use your superior discipline and skill to approach the insurgent such that you're detected just at the last second. Both of you raise your weapons simultaneously and open fire in a crushing tear of bullets that scatter and ricochet wildly across the room. One bullet finds the bad guy and he falls in a bloody lump just inches from your boots.What exactly do you "feel" at this moment? Relief, to be sure, but also something else that cannot be explained to anyone who hasn't committed an act of intimate killing. It's not joy, exactly, more like exhilaration and an enormous sense of self-satisfaction that in one of the most primal challenges — where all the satellites, planes, ships and smart weapons are of no use whatever — you prevailed, one on one, over a diabolically evil enemy.Who should be offended by the emotions of "joy" or whatever one feels at the moment of a successful kill? It's a fair fight, you win and the bad guy loses. It's that simple. One more terrorist will not threaten your unit or your buddies. Remember, this isn't a reality show. There are no retakes. Donald Trump doesn't fire you and the price for second place is death.My point simply is this: We must celebrate the fact that we have men like Jim Mattis willing to devote (and give) their lives when necessary to commit an act that most of those in our society would be horrified to even contemplate. If you are offended by these emotions, then seriously consider joining an Army or Marine infantry unit so that you can demonstrate how to kill an enemy in a more humane and politically correct manner.Until such an unlikely day occurs, we must all remember that leaders like Gen. Mattis and the men he commands are the rarest commodities that a protected society like ours can produce. All they want is the opportunity to serve a country that truly appreciates the difficulty and dangers inherent in the duties they perform, duties that very few are willing even to contemplate.
Retired Maj. Robert H. Scales is a former commander of the Army War College.
Friday, February 04, 2005
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