Archive for June, 2006
Our nation is being torn by the war in Iraq. As I write this the North Koreans are prepping a missile that could have the potential to hit Alaska or even the west coast. We have been diverted by this “mission accomplished” operation in Iraq, while rogue states develop not only nuclear weapons, but the means of delivering them. What is worst is that even if North Korea does not have the missile technology to deliver them to our shores, terrorists do. Our brave troops die in Iraq and polls conducted of our troops in Iraq show that the majority favor a speedy exit. Our economy falters, our sustainability index in the geo-political – economic – military conflict with totalitarianism is harmed by this “mission accomplished” operation!
What is alarming is that polls conducted on Iraqis show that they believe it is alright to kill American troops. The Bush administration, which got us in to this mess with false reports of Iraqi WMD, did not use sufficient troop levels to win the occupation.
Can you imagine Germany or Japan three years after WWII’s end with armed resistance occurring along with the loss of entire cities back and forth to the enemy?
We have lost over 2,500 troops. Now for most dictatorships with even smaller population bases then us they would consider that to be minor! Now the fact is that as Americans these are too high a level of causalities for a war that does not have our “vital interests at stake”. We must declare what our objectives are. We seem to have entered with the first objective listed below. However due to the lack of WMD and to save face, Bush is changing our goals to both listed below.
POTENTIAL WAR GOALS:
- Elimination of potential Iraqi WMD and the cessation of Iraqi threats to Gulf Oil Fields. OR
- The additional goal of nation building. Creating an internal constitutional democracy in Iraq. This democracy would then ideally “infect” the rest of the Muslim world.
The latter goal is somewhat difficult when you consider that polls have shown three years after the war that Iraqi’s feel it is ok to shoot Americans. The second was not our stated or intended goal nor was it given implicit congressional sanction as the first objective. Since only the first objective was really considered our goal, I suggest we should declare, “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”!
We could even have Bush, in uniform, fly out from Bagdad! This way he could earn back some of the National Guard meetings that he cut and ran from!
Most important we should then leave COMPLETELY within the next three months. We could leave a base in a small zone in the Iraqi dessert that would be surrounded by mines and patrolled by drones and helicopters with orders to “shoot to kill” anyone who entered a ten mile defensive perimeter. This dessert redoubt would be to insure Iran does not invade and could function as a safe haven to train Iraqi soldiers.
If however our goal is #2 then we must:
- Add far more troops.
- Renounce the Geneva Convention in relation to insurgents. We must have the guts to win else get the hell out.
We have to decide if it is in our national interest to upgrade to objective #2. One thing is certain. Maintaining the status quo is wrong. It is said that as Iraqi soldiers standup then our troops will stand down. That would pledge our army to fight another “no – win” war. Even if the Iraqi’s could replace all our troops, objective #2 would not be met. Iraq is not in the same condition three years after the war as Germany and Japan were! The latter did not have active resistance movements after their conquest.
We should recommend to Iraq that they create a Three State Federal Union, Kurds, Sunni and Shiites. With equal votes in an upper house, population proportionate in the lower house and all natural resources in the hands of the federal government. The three states would have complete local autonomy. But most important we would LEAVE NOW! – MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! They can then use carrot and stick to deal with their problems. We don’t have the stomach to deal with the insurgents as need be. Let the Iraqi’s do so. They believe it is ok to shoot at our troops so better they worry about the mess. So long as they do not present a threat to the world. One thing before we leave. A convicted terrorist should be beheaded in a guillotine! This may come as an “inconvenient truth” to some of my fellow democrats. But we must speak the language these terrorists understand. Perhaps with the terrorist’s mouth taped choking shut with ham stuffed in it and broadcast on TV.
QUESTION: What does the term “Cut and Run” refer to?
ANSWERS:
- George Bush pushing his way into the National Guard only to skip his National Guard military service obligation. If you miss just one weekend monthly meeting and half a day of another meeting then you must make it up or get activated into the regular Army. Hey I can remember the units I served in along with some of the guys I served with. Why cannot Bush!
- Corporate Big Business wanting the benefits of making a profit in America while shipping American jobs and technology to potential adversaries overseas. Cut and run is American Corporatist Effete Snobs changing their identify from American companies to Multinational companies. JUDAS PRACTICED CUT AND RUN! JUDAS BELIEVED IN FREE TRADE!
Either answer is correct and YOU LOOSE MIDDLE CLASS AMERICA!
It is time for the SILENT MAJORITY TO STAND UP!
Vice President Dick Cheney has criticized the NY Times for making public a secret surveillance project of our Intelligence Community concerning the potential transfer of funds between terrorist operatives. While I believe we must always have built in safe guards against future Presidents tampering with our freedoms, I have to agree with the Vice President.
Yes I am a democrat. But let me present an “Inconvenient Truth” to my fellow democrats. We live in a world that is hostile to democracy. Yes we must be the “model” of democracy to the world but that presumes there is someone there to “internalize” the models behavior patterns. The “Inconvenient Truth” of this era is that no matter how hard you try, most on this planet may still very well envy and hate us. Allowing ourselves to be the victims of terrorists diminishes us as a “potent role model object” and reduces our influence to spread democratic ideals. While I would want more intensive watch dog activity of this program if it were for domestic surveillance, I see no problem with monitoring the flow of capital into and out of our national borders. The Bush administration is correct.
“Capital Flow” is a national security issue! We are engaged not simply in a military competition but a “Geo-political-cultural-economic” competition to defend the principles of our democratic way of life. Therefore might I suggest an additional monitoring of the “flow of capital” into and out of national borders! China is stealing our technology and her economy is booming.
Meanwhile American companies are changing their self identity to that of “multi-national corporations”. While these capitalists dance to their new “Globalization Internationale”, without allegiance to the society, culture and Nation that gave them birth, growth and substance, their behavioral policies are becoming a threat to American National Security.
With the bleeding of technology and middle class jobs to societies that do not owe allegiance to the values that gave these corporate collectives their initial existence, America’s “sustainability index” is being diminished in the “Geo-political-cultural-economic” competition of our democratic culture in relation to alien cultures and political systems.
Yet all the while these Corporate effete snobs now demand the loyalty of their American employees while expanding their own extravagant pensions. American employees are falling behind European workers in health care and pension rights. These corporatists preach “individualism” yet demand that the Middle Class American (and those who aspire to be) deny their class interests to serve these corporatist effete snobs whose very self identity is no longer American but “Multi-National”. They place “Portfolio Security” above “NATIONAL SECURITY”!
Yes the flow of capital over our national borders is a security issue. The Bush administration is correct to monitor banking transactions. To bad they were not as zealous with our ports and the flow of capital and technology to societies that do not share our Cultural Values. Democrats must call them to the task while ceasing their incessant masochistic self hatred of American values. IT IS TIME FOR THE SILENT MAJORITY OF AMERICA, ITS GREAT MIDDLE CLASS, TO STAND UP.
Today the Wall Street Journal ran a front page article regarding the extravagant pensions executives are receiving while middle class employees are getting screwed. What we are witnessing in this nation is the result of how our two party system is screwing the Middle Class. Both pay lip service to the middle class while the Democrats allow themselves to be kidnapped by the “hate America” crowd.
Meanwhile the Republicans sing their version of the “Internationale”. That is to say they protect corporations that no longer have loyalty to the nation that gave them succor, protection and sustenance. These very corporations now have a self-identity of being “Multinational” and not part of America but rather the “global economy”. While loyal American employees turn their backs on Internationalist May Day rallies, rejecting the notion of loyalty to an international working class, the effete snobs of elitist corporate America pledge their loyalty instead to the Globalization of Capital.
While American employees rally around an “American Labor Day”, the effete snobs of the corporate elite preach investing in China even if doing so undermines not only the American job market but the leakage of American technology to a dangerous communist dictatorship. Naturally when years pass and communist China presents a military challenge to our nation as it’s R&D costs have been diminished by the transfer of American technology, these effete snobs will then attempt to profit from investments in military contracts to fight the menace that they themselves helped to create! Liberals will have to wake up to the “inconvenient truth” that they assisted the republicans in their endeavor by not stopping this massive give away of American technology and jobs.
Who is on the side of the American Middle Class? Cannot the democrats find time from their endless whining that America is behind every evil that plagues humanity to finally pull their heads out of their asses and see the light? Why must every democratic candidate for President get caught up in this masochistic philosophy while republicans get away with their mislabeling of issues?
Wake up Middle Class America its time to take our country back!
General Mc Arthur said “In war there is no substitute for victory”. That assumes naturally that the war is for a just cause! Like many of you reading this, I really did believe Iraq had WMD.
Now I realize that Iraqi WMD are like George Bush’s service record in the National Guard. Neither can be found!
America’s Middle Class has been taken for a ride. After the events of 9/11 our country needed bold action. Thrashing the likes of Saddam may very well have been needed as a demonstration to other countries who may harbor ideas of building WMD what to expect from the USA. What I am advocating is a “Third Alternative” in the usage of our military power that is neither hawk or dove but I will term as “OWL”. Some of which is similar to the “Powell Doctrine”.
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- Limit our use of force to areas that are vital to our national interest.
- Maximize our technology for “shock and awe”.
- Utilize as quickly as possible local forces then LEAVE almost as fast as we entered with troops in safe havens over the horizons.
- Give high levels of humanitarian aid to the former enemy.
- Only if it is VITAL and in our national interest remain in the populated area of a conquered nation. In such a scenario we must have (1) high levels of troops and (2) use extra-ordinary means against insurgents. If we don’t have the stomach for this then we should not be lingering around.
With the above guidelines then in Iraq after smashing Saddam we should have installed a petty colonel with all the niceties of becoming a democracy just to get the hell out! If needed we could have stationed our troops out in the Iraqi dessert far from the dual river swath of land that contains the population of Iraq. From there we could have instituted a FIVE MILE NO ENTRY ZONE around the two or three redoubts containing our troops. With helicopters and land mines surrounding these bases for protection. This way we could still have the troop presence inside Iraq but let the civilian authorities fend for themselves. If the whole county wants to go under in a civil war no loss to us.
The troops would only be there (1) to protect against outside invasion from Iran, (2) if the new government was taken over by the Baarth Party and (3) to train new Iraqi Recruits away from the population centers in a safe American occupied area in the dessert.
Our troops should have stayed out of Iraq proper once the victory against Saddam was secured. Meanwhile North Korea and Iran pose far greater threats to us. The one good aspect of the over throw of Iraq was as a “threat” to Iran and N. Korea as to what could happen to them. Our “military threat” to rogue states like Iran and N. Korea is now strangely diminished not enhanced due to insurrection phase of this war which was supposed to have been won.
Do you think Hitler, Stalin or Mao would have the same problems we have in Iraq? I doubt it. They would just torture every prisoner they had till they found out all they need to know. We have now lost over 2,500 troops. This is far to much for this mission. By continuing this war Bush has weakened our military threat. Why? Because as a democracy we value human life. Do you believe the loss of 2,500 troops by even the smaller nation of N. Korea would mean one minute of lost sleep to the “Dear Leader” of North Korea? What about the self whipping Shiites of Iran? Do you think the loss of 2,500 of their troops would stop them even though they have a smaller population base then we have? Western style democracy is the exception to human societies on this planet and the sooner we realize this the better. Both conservatives and liberals had better be very careful how we choose to “use” or “avoid using” our military power. The wrong use and yes “under-use” of our military can have disastrous consequences. It is imperative that nations like North Korea and Iran not be allowed to have nuclear weapons by any means necessary! Our military must have the most advance weapons possible. We must not allow the enemies of democracy to gain access to our technology nor reward their economies with free trade unless it benefits us and the spread of our way of life! Yes this requires a VALUE JUDGMENT. Yes it requires a belief in a “right” and “wrong” that some modern day sophists would prefer not to face. Unfortunately many republicans and some democrats see it only as a economic judgment.
We are involved in a Geo-Political Economic struggle on this planet. Liberals must take their heads out of the sand and see the light while conservatives must take their heads out of their stock portfolios and look to the advancement of national security not “portfolio security”.
China is running rampant stealing our intellectual property. All the while solid middle class jobs are being shipped overseas. Those on the left who talk about the evils of the “military – industrial complex” should take note that by allowing China to have our technology be it via purchase of theft, are enabling a potential enemy to build it’s military. Then we will have to divert funds latter to even more costly military R & D. Those on the right should stop trying to make a profit from economic ties with China without political changes in their society. The “SUSTAINING POWER” of our society in this struggle for the spread of democracy is thus being weakened by both the left and the right wings. It is time for the Middle Class to stand up and be counted! If not then indeed Atlas will have shrugged!
Well gang I have promised to attack BS from all sides. Yes I am a liberal but I am not a politician. I am after the truth. I have attacked President Bush now it’s the democrats turn.
How is it that Congresswoman McKinney has the unprecedented arrogance to DEMAND that some poor low paid blue collar security guard should know by face EVERY member of congress?
The good congresswoman seems to think she is better than everyone else. Or are we about to get a dose of “black rage” or oh oh oh I know, maybe it was just that time of the month! Yes this liberal can be God damned ANTI-PC. You see I had to serve in the Army and while at Fort Gordon Signal School (see that George Bush I can remember where I served can you) I had to serve duty on brigade guard. I was required to stand in front of my barracks and if anyone wanted to enter they had to present their military id. It was the policy of the Fort Commander to attempt, without notice, entry into the various building in his fort and to do so in FULL UNIFORM with battle ribbons and general’s stars! Woe to the poor soldier who allowed him entry without seeing a valid ID PASS! To do so would result in the poor soldier’s being placed in the guard house with an article 15. (Oh Mr. President I know you did not attend your National Guard meetings so let me explain. An “article 15″ is a crime of the civilian misdemeanor level).
We only had ONE base commander and we knew what he looked like. But none the less, he showed by example, that he was not above the law. So who the hell is Congresswoman McKinney? She expects some poor blue collar security guard to know all 435 members of the House and 100 Senators?
Congresswoman McKinney it is time you showed by example. You are living a life that most of us would dream of having! Don’t give me this BULL SHIT that it is racism! You would insist that your face and that of hundreds of other Congresspersons be recognized. You would instill a environment of fear in our security forces to satisfy your ego at the expense of our National Security. Guards would be afraid to do their duty. That is the lesson my base commander instilled on us. He wanted us not to care that he was a General and I was a lowly private. The law was the law. That meant he did not have the right to enter a building without his VALID PICTURE ID and neither does McKinney! Yet the building you are entering is worth far more than my barracks. The Capital has worth beyond even my life and yours. So follow the example of my base commander and even demand that you be confronted by guards. Welcome it!
