Tuesday, August 30, 2005
The Bush Team needs to speak clearly about the war effort
This is "a war to be proud of."
Despite what has not gone well, the sheer magnitude of the success of the United States, Britain, Australia, Poland, and our other allies often eludes those with a vested interest in defeating a Republican administration. Heck, given how this administration handles the media and mangles its messages, I wonder how anyone can know how we are doing or theorize about its evolution.
I've complained often that my biggest complaint about this administration and the war is the less than cohesive message about the war's importance and how well we have done thus far.
Maybe Iraq vexes us on a daily basis, but on the whole, a lot has gone right in Iraq, and Afghanistan, and the rest of the world where terrorists, dictators, and extremists linger. The successes thus far sure have not been do to the UN and Kofi, Gerhard, or Chiraq. They have occurred because of Bush, Blair, and the rest of the team, including the American Army.
Christopher Hitchens, a superb writer who broke with the left wing after 9/11, illustrates just what the President could talk about in regards to the war.
"DOES THE PRESIDENT deserve the benefit of the reserve of fortitude that I just mentioned? Only just, if at all. We need not argue about the failures and the mistakes and even the crimes, because these in some ways argue themselves.
But a positive accounting could be offered without braggartry, and would include:
(1) The overthrow of Talibanism and Baathism, and the exposure of many highly suggestive links between the two elements of this Hitler-Stalin pact. Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who moved from Afghanistan to Iraq before the coalition intervention, has even gone to the trouble of naming his organization al Qaeda in Mesopotamia.
(2) The subsequent capitulation of Qaddafi's Libya in point of weapons of mass destruction--a capitulation that was offered not to Kofi Annan or the E.U. but to Blair and Bush.
(3) The consequent unmasking of the A.Q. Khan network for the illicit transfer of nuclear technology to Libya, Iran, and North Korea.
(4) The agreement by the United Nations that its own reform is necessary and overdue, and the unmasking of a quasi-criminal network within its elite.
(5) The craven admission by President Chirac and Chancellor Schröder, when confronted with irrefutable evidence of cheating and concealment, respecting solemn treaties, on the part of Iran, that not even this will alter their commitment to neutralism. (One had already suspected as much in the Iraqi case.)
(6) The ability to certify Iraq as actually disarmed, rather than accept the word of a psychopathic autocrat.
(7) The immense gains made by the largest stateless minority in the region--the Kurds--and the spread of this example to other states.
(8) The related encouragement of democratic and civil society movements in Egypt, Syria, and most notably Lebanon, which has regained a version of its autonomy.
(9) The violent and ignominious death of thousands of bin Ladenist infiltrators into Iraq and Afghanistan, and the real prospect of greatly enlarging this number.
(10) The training and hardening of many thousands of American servicemen and women in a battle against the forces of nihilism and absolutism, which training and hardening will surely be of great use in future combat.
It would be admirable if the president could manage to make such a presentation. It would also be welcome if he and his deputies adopted a clear attitude toward the war within the war: in other words, stated plainly, that the secular and pluralist forces within Afghan and Iraqi society, while they are not our clients, can in no circumstance be allowed to wonder which outcome we favor.
Despite what has not gone well, the sheer magnitude of the success of the United States, Britain, Australia, Poland, and our other allies often eludes those with a vested interest in defeating a Republican administration. Heck, given how this administration handles the media and mangles its messages, I wonder how anyone can know how we are doing or theorize about its evolution.
I've complained often that my biggest complaint about this administration and the war is the less than cohesive message about the war's importance and how well we have done thus far.
Maybe Iraq vexes us on a daily basis, but on the whole, a lot has gone right in Iraq, and Afghanistan, and the rest of the world where terrorists, dictators, and extremists linger. The successes thus far sure have not been do to the UN and Kofi, Gerhard, or Chiraq. They have occurred because of Bush, Blair, and the rest of the team, including the American Army.
Christopher Hitchens, a superb writer who broke with the left wing after 9/11, illustrates just what the President could talk about in regards to the war.
"DOES THE PRESIDENT deserve the benefit of the reserve of fortitude that I just mentioned? Only just, if at all. We need not argue about the failures and the mistakes and even the crimes, because these in some ways argue themselves.
But a positive accounting could be offered without braggartry, and would include:
(1) The overthrow of Talibanism and Baathism, and the exposure of many highly suggestive links between the two elements of this Hitler-Stalin pact. Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who moved from Afghanistan to Iraq before the coalition intervention, has even gone to the trouble of naming his organization al Qaeda in Mesopotamia.
(2) The subsequent capitulation of Qaddafi's Libya in point of weapons of mass destruction--a capitulation that was offered not to Kofi Annan or the E.U. but to Blair and Bush.
(3) The consequent unmasking of the A.Q. Khan network for the illicit transfer of nuclear technology to Libya, Iran, and North Korea.
(4) The agreement by the United Nations that its own reform is necessary and overdue, and the unmasking of a quasi-criminal network within its elite.
(5) The craven admission by President Chirac and Chancellor Schröder, when confronted with irrefutable evidence of cheating and concealment, respecting solemn treaties, on the part of Iran, that not even this will alter their commitment to neutralism. (One had already suspected as much in the Iraqi case.)
(6) The ability to certify Iraq as actually disarmed, rather than accept the word of a psychopathic autocrat.
(7) The immense gains made by the largest stateless minority in the region--the Kurds--and the spread of this example to other states.
(8) The related encouragement of democratic and civil society movements in Egypt, Syria, and most notably Lebanon, which has regained a version of its autonomy.
(9) The violent and ignominious death of thousands of bin Ladenist infiltrators into Iraq and Afghanistan, and the real prospect of greatly enlarging this number.
(10) The training and hardening of many thousands of American servicemen and women in a battle against the forces of nihilism and absolutism, which training and hardening will surely be of great use in future combat.
It would be admirable if the president could manage to make such a presentation. It would also be welcome if he and his deputies adopted a clear attitude toward the war within the war: in other words, stated plainly, that the secular and pluralist forces within Afghan and Iraqi society, while they are not our clients, can in no circumstance be allowed to wonder which outcome we favor.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Can the Republicans find a good candidate for 2008?
The poll results indicate that Guiliani leads the list of prospective Republican Candidates.
Who did I vote for? Guiliani as the candidate and Thompson as the fantasy candidate (though I seriously thought about Rice, and would in reality, vote for her in a heartbeat if the Republicans nominated her).
Despite that, I'm concerned now, just as I was in 1999 and 2000, that the Republicans do not possess a deep field of potential Presidential contenders.
And now the "contenders":
Giuliani: Strongest state is New Mexico (49.3%), home state of New York is safe (46.1%). His strongest big states are CT (41.7%), NJ (37.1%), WA (34.7%). However, the headline-stealer is his support in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, vote-rich New South states with large urban centers: TX (34.6%; are Cowboys fans keeping Allen down?), NC (33.7%) and FL (31.8%). Giuliani also gets strong support in more libertarian-leaning Western states (MT, NM, AK, WY) but the sample sizes are nothing to write home about. Other big state results: CA (30.1% -- despite being blue, CA tends to be a bellwether among Republican voters), OH (31.4%), PA (29.0%), and MI (30.5%).
Allen: Look at map above, and you’ll see Allen isn’t a Southern candidate so much as he is a border state candidate. Allen stomps in the Old Dominion (50.2%), and wins WV, KY, MD, and IN, with some spillover strength into states like OH, IL, PA, and MO. He has a seemingly anomalous win in RI and takes both the Dakotas and performs well in Minnesota -- did a couple of folks up north remember who was NRSC Chairman when Tom Daschle was retired? His strongest Deep South states are AL (his 7th best finish), NC (his 10th), SC (his 18th), and GA (his 19th). In the big states: CA (20.4%), TX (17.0%), NY (11.6%), FL (18.4%).
Gingrich: Newt-mania is entirely an outside the Beltway phenomenon right now: he’s the Reader’s Digest candidate. Gingrich scores the worst in D.C. at 3.2%, and gets just 7.2% in Virginia (NH is his second-worst state). Up and down the Eastern seabord, there’s little interest in Mr. Newt. Flyover Country’s a different story: he comes close in Idaho, finishes a strong second in Iowa, and is locked in a three-way tangle in Indiana, but owing to how evenly his support is spread out, he wins no states. The Deep South, including his home state of Georgia, is another area of strength: LA (20.4%), GA (20.4%), MS (19.5%). He also does well in a smattering of states that transcend regional boundaries (save except for the establishment redoubts): OR (20.2%), MO (19.3%), AZ (18.8%).
Romney: Governor Romney turns in the biggest winning percentage of any candidate in any state – not in Massachusetts, but in Utah with 52.1% of the vote. His second-best state: RI, a mini-MA, only more zealous about it – 19.4%. In Massachusetts, he’s at 18.6%, second to Giuliani. And he’s tied for second in N.H., currently his fourth best-state at 16.1%. Bigger states he does well in tend to be out West: AZ (12.6%), CO (12.6%), and CA (11.9%). Five of his bottom ten states are in the South. (Romney is probably the best example of these state-by-state breakdowns making perfect sense.)
McCain: Vermont, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York. These states would all be near the bottom of Republican support in a general election, but they adorn John McCain’s top 10. His support is concentrated conspicuously along the Northeast Metroliner Corridor – guaranteeing him frontrunner coverage in the MSM. His home state of Arizona is well down the list with an 8% McCain vote, less than half of what he gets in D.C. This seems low, except it’s nearly double what he gets in neighboring Western states: NV (4.2%) and CO (3.1%). McCain and Chuck Hagel are apparently the favorites of lefty trolls crossover voters as results from Balloon Juice and RedState seem to indicate. In a less mischievous vein, are non-Republicans in loose screen national media polls driving up McCain’s numbers from their lows among Republican activists in forums such as this one?
Who did I vote for? Guiliani as the candidate and Thompson as the fantasy candidate (though I seriously thought about Rice, and would in reality, vote for her in a heartbeat if the Republicans nominated her).
Despite that, I'm concerned now, just as I was in 1999 and 2000, that the Republicans do not possess a deep field of potential Presidential contenders.
And now the "contenders":
Giuliani: Strongest state is New Mexico (49.3%), home state of New York is safe (46.1%). His strongest big states are CT (41.7%), NJ (37.1%), WA (34.7%). However, the headline-stealer is his support in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, vote-rich New South states with large urban centers: TX (34.6%; are Cowboys fans keeping Allen down?), NC (33.7%) and FL (31.8%). Giuliani also gets strong support in more libertarian-leaning Western states (MT, NM, AK, WY) but the sample sizes are nothing to write home about. Other big state results: CA (30.1% -- despite being blue, CA tends to be a bellwether among Republican voters), OH (31.4%), PA (29.0%), and MI (30.5%).
Allen: Look at map above, and you’ll see Allen isn’t a Southern candidate so much as he is a border state candidate. Allen stomps in the Old Dominion (50.2%), and wins WV, KY, MD, and IN, with some spillover strength into states like OH, IL, PA, and MO. He has a seemingly anomalous win in RI and takes both the Dakotas and performs well in Minnesota -- did a couple of folks up north remember who was NRSC Chairman when Tom Daschle was retired? His strongest Deep South states are AL (his 7th best finish), NC (his 10th), SC (his 18th), and GA (his 19th). In the big states: CA (20.4%), TX (17.0%), NY (11.6%), FL (18.4%).
Gingrich: Newt-mania is entirely an outside the Beltway phenomenon right now: he’s the Reader’s Digest candidate. Gingrich scores the worst in D.C. at 3.2%, and gets just 7.2% in Virginia (NH is his second-worst state). Up and down the Eastern seabord, there’s little interest in Mr. Newt. Flyover Country’s a different story: he comes close in Idaho, finishes a strong second in Iowa, and is locked in a three-way tangle in Indiana, but owing to how evenly his support is spread out, he wins no states. The Deep South, including his home state of Georgia, is another area of strength: LA (20.4%), GA (20.4%), MS (19.5%). He also does well in a smattering of states that transcend regional boundaries (save except for the establishment redoubts): OR (20.2%), MO (19.3%), AZ (18.8%).
Romney: Governor Romney turns in the biggest winning percentage of any candidate in any state – not in Massachusetts, but in Utah with 52.1% of the vote. His second-best state: RI, a mini-MA, only more zealous about it – 19.4%. In Massachusetts, he’s at 18.6%, second to Giuliani. And he’s tied for second in N.H., currently his fourth best-state at 16.1%. Bigger states he does well in tend to be out West: AZ (12.6%), CO (12.6%), and CA (11.9%). Five of his bottom ten states are in the South. (Romney is probably the best example of these state-by-state breakdowns making perfect sense.)
McCain: Vermont, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York. These states would all be near the bottom of Republican support in a general election, but they adorn John McCain’s top 10. His support is concentrated conspicuously along the Northeast Metroliner Corridor – guaranteeing him frontrunner coverage in the MSM. His home state of Arizona is well down the list with an 8% McCain vote, less than half of what he gets in D.C. This seems low, except it’s nearly double what he gets in neighboring Western states: NV (4.2%) and CO (3.1%). McCain and Chuck Hagel are apparently the favorites of lefty trolls crossover voters as results from Balloon Juice and RedState seem to indicate. In a less mischievous vein, are non-Republicans in loose screen national media polls driving up McCain’s numbers from their lows among Republican activists in forums such as this one?
Friday, August 26, 2005
Sheehan camp being funded by Ben's ice cream money
ABC News in San Francisco reports the following about the funding behind the Sheehan anti-war campaign.
"Their bills are being paid by True Majority, a non-profit set up by Ben Cohen, of Ben and Jerry's ice cream fame.
Ben Cohen: "People are willing to listen to her and we want to do as much as we can to make her voice heard."
Cohen's liberal group has teamed up with Berkeley-based moveon.org, an anti-Bush group co-founded by Joan Blades. "
So, I suppose that technically it's not Ben and Jerry's, but....only one of the founders.
And you are still going to that ice cream store for what reason?
Come to think of it, I think AAFES sponsors these guys on military bases. Time to do some checking. If so, maybe we should start asking why the military is supporting Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
"Their bills are being paid by True Majority, a non-profit set up by Ben Cohen, of Ben and Jerry's ice cream fame.
Ben Cohen: "People are willing to listen to her and we want to do as much as we can to make her voice heard."
Cohen's liberal group has teamed up with Berkeley-based moveon.org, an anti-Bush group co-founded by Joan Blades. "
So, I suppose that technically it's not Ben and Jerry's, but....only one of the founders.
And you are still going to that ice cream store for what reason?
Come to think of it, I think AAFES sponsors these guys on military bases. Time to do some checking. If so, maybe we should start asking why the military is supporting Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
I must be getting grumpy...
...or maybe I'm just irritated that friends of mine are being mortared nearly every day and are in firefights, while left wingers and anti-war types undermine my friends and servicemembers.
I've never had any sympathy for the anti-war crowd, during Vietnam, Desert Storm, or OIF.
Now the left wing scum are harassing our wounded.
I think BlackFive says it best:
I've never had any sympathy for the anti-war crowd, during Vietnam, Desert Storm, or OIF.
Now the left wing scum are harassing our wounded.
I think BlackFive says it best:
Jesus Loves Protestors
Everyone Else Thinks
THEY SUCK!!!
Why I stopped using Google for news
I stopped checking the Google news site when I became aware, through a number of bloggers like Charles Johnson at Little Green Footballs, of the amazingly transparent bias of the Google news team.
Whether it was their selective choices for advertisements or news sites, the Google team seemed to consistently select the most left wing or extreme sites to represent "news."
Today, Charles Johnson shows how that Google bias represents itself in hateful, anti-Israeli type articles from Arab new sources.
"Google News Hits Bottom, Digs
This is what happens when you have an automated news headline generator that draws on a database of news sources hand-selected by left wing lunatics; a headline currently featured at Google News:
The Google News system is broken. In a very big way. The Wahhabi schemers who run sites like ArabNews are well aware of this, and are exploiting it relentlessly to spread their propaganda.
07:21 PM PDT link: 160 comments link onlylast comment: Baldy 10:05:47 am 8/26/05email this article "
Thursday, August 25, 2005
The French were wrong on Iraq, Bush won the election, so now...
...the French are going after another American, Lance Armstrong.
The French simply cannot stand for America to lead in any aspect of life.
Sounds like Lance is going to fight back. I hope so.
As I told my boss yesterday, hmmmh, the French are making accusations against yet another American. Wonder why. I doubt there is anything at all to the French accusations.
Lance kicked their butt for a number of years, now the French think they can get even with 6 year old accusations. Typical.
The French simply cannot stand for America to lead in any aspect of life.
Sounds like Lance is going to fight back. I hope so.
As I told my boss yesterday, hmmmh, the French are making accusations against yet another American. Wonder why. I doubt there is anything at all to the French accusations.
Lance kicked their butt for a number of years, now the French think they can get even with 6 year old accusations. Typical.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Left Wing extremists at Ground Zero
The big money supporting left wing extremism in America and the Hate America crowd are working diligently to take over the memorial at the World Trade Center site at the International Freedom Center.
This Cox and Forkum cartoon provides the graphics and a good summary highlighting the fact that these lefties want to turn the memorial to our dead and 9/11 into a left wing forum for attacking America and asking us to apologize for a variety of global ills.
The New York Daily News provides more details.
"A global network of human rights museums is urging the International Freedom Center to downplay America in its exhibits and programs at Ground Zero, the Daily News has learned.
The outrageous request is the latest controversy to torment the Freedom Center, whose leaders have tried to dispel the perception that it would be a home for America bashers.
"Don't feature America first," the IFC has been advised by the consortium of 14 "museums of conscience" that quietly has been consulting with the Freedom Center for the past two years over plans for the hallowed site. "Think internationally, where America is one of the many nations of the world."
Those words rang hollow with some 9/11 family members.
"I can't think of a greater insult than to invite museums from other countries of the world to come and exploit what should be America's memorial," said Jack Lynch, who helped carry the body of his firefighter son Michael, 30, out of the rubble"
Can you imagine what these left wing apologists and the Hate America team would have done with the Pearl Harbor Memorial? The Marine Memorial at Arlington? Yes, you can.
Isn't it time to start fighting back against the Hate America left wingers? I think so.
Who thought of calling the memorial the "International Freedom Center?" How about, "The Attack on America" as a way of showing what the memorial, and the subsequent war on Islamic extremism, are all about?
Pat Benatar
The best rock musician ever, IMHO!
When I was a young cadet at West Point, and then a lieutenant in 2-77 Armor at Fort Lewis, Pat Benatar ruled.
Over time, I've periodically returned to listen to her songs. Favorite Daughter frequently watched with some amusement as I told her what I had been doing when I listened to Benatar.
Example: 0300, open jeep, with Specialist (later Command Sergeant Major Peters), driving through the desert plateau of Yakima Firing Center looking for brokedick tanks. A bit undisciplined, but, we had a great time listening to Benatar.
So, Favorite Wife returned from Florida on Monday. Today, her package arrived, and inside, Favorite Daughter had inserted Pat Benatar's Greatest Hits. Wow, what a great present. Thanks Favorite Daughter.
Note: Before the Army learned to do commericials (Be All You Can Be still tops the list!) we used to sit around and drink at night and develop Army recruiting commericials. I'm still convinced that Benatar singing "Hit me with your best shot" while an M1 Tank roamed the battlefield killing all in its path with that 120mm main gun would have been the all time best recruiting commercial. Oh well.
When I was a young cadet at West Point, and then a lieutenant in 2-77 Armor at Fort Lewis, Pat Benatar ruled.
Over time, I've periodically returned to listen to her songs. Favorite Daughter frequently watched with some amusement as I told her what I had been doing when I listened to Benatar.
Example: 0300, open jeep, with Specialist (later Command Sergeant Major Peters), driving through the desert plateau of Yakima Firing Center looking for brokedick tanks. A bit undisciplined, but, we had a great time listening to Benatar.
So, Favorite Wife returned from Florida on Monday. Today, her package arrived, and inside, Favorite Daughter had inserted Pat Benatar's Greatest Hits. Wow, what a great present. Thanks Favorite Daughter.
Note: Before the Army learned to do commericials (Be All You Can Be still tops the list!) we used to sit around and drink at night and develop Army recruiting commericials. I'm still convinced that Benatar singing "Hit me with your best shot" while an M1 Tank roamed the battlefield killing all in its path with that 120mm main gun would have been the all time best recruiting commercial. Oh well.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
This is news?
According to the front page of the WaPo, obesity is UP in 49 of 50 states.
They needed an advocacy group to tell them the obvious.
Note to the Post. Sit in the Charlotte and Atlanta airports for a few hours. Ask us if you are surprised.
Since when did the obvious become newsworthy?
Jeez. Back to my low fat Pop Tarts and Diet Coke (with Lime).
They needed an advocacy group to tell them the obvious.
Note to the Post. Sit in the Charlotte and Atlanta airports for a few hours. Ask us if you are surprised.
Since when did the obvious become newsworthy?
Jeez. Back to my low fat Pop Tarts and Diet Coke (with Lime).
Not my kind of Christian
Pat Robertson.
Since when is it a Christian leader's responsibility to advocate the assassination of a foreign ruler? More here.
Hey, I'm not a Chavez fan. I consider him to be a quintessential enemy of the United States and human rights. Down the road, we might have to go to war with Venezuela over the actions of Chavez. But not yet.
Time for the Bush team and the Republicans to cut Robertson loose. I know, I know, he might cost us some votes. But why do we want to be linked to someone like Robertson?
Since when is it a Christian leader's responsibility to advocate the assassination of a foreign ruler? More here.
Hey, I'm not a Chavez fan. I consider him to be a quintessential enemy of the United States and human rights. Down the road, we might have to go to war with Venezuela over the actions of Chavez. But not yet.
I think Venezuela may have some trouble, however, taking the moral high ground. But, let it be said about left wing South America dictators and their fans: shame has never been a problem with these guys.
In the meantime, prior to the declaration of war, how does one reconcile advocating assassination with Christian values?Time for the Bush team and the Republicans to cut Robertson loose. I know, I know, he might cost us some votes. But why do we want to be linked to someone like Robertson?
Yet another reason to dislike the French
As if we needed one.
A good illustration of why Eastern Europe despises France. MUNICH.
The legacy continues as France attempts to bully any eastern European nation which supports America in the Middle East.
Czech remembers French duplicity prior to WWII. As it should.
We should remember it now, regardless of how much France may support us anywhere but Iraq.
A good illustration of why Eastern Europe despises France. MUNICH.
The legacy continues as France attempts to bully any eastern European nation which supports America in the Middle East.
Czech remembers French duplicity prior to WWII. As it should.
We should remember it now, regardless of how much France may support us anywhere but Iraq.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
The continuing threat of old Soviet bio labs
I’m not sure which concerns me the most, the threat of accidental release, the threat of terrorist or gang capture of the pathogens, or the threat that the underpaid scientists will sell out to the bad guys for cash.
"The labs today are seeking to fill a critical role in preventing epidemics in regions where medical services and sanitation have deteriorated since Soviet times. But an equally pressing challenge is security: How to prevent the germ collections and biological know-how from being sold or stolen.
"They often have culture collections of pathogens that lack biosecurity, and they employ people who are well-versed in investigating and handling deadly pathogens," said Raymond A. Zilinskas, a bioweapons expert and coauthor of the draft report on the antiplague system. "Some are located at sites accessible to terrorist groups and criminal groups. The potential is that terrorists and criminals would have little problem acquiring the resources that reside in these facilities."
Managers of the old antiplague stations are aware of their vulnerabilities but lack the most basic resources for dealing with them, according to the Monterey authors and U.S. officials. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, budgets at the institutes have fallen so steeply that even the simplest security upgrades are out of reach. One facility in a Central Asian capital could not even afford a telephone and had no way of contacting police in the event of a break-in. At least two antiplague centers outside Russia have acknowledged burglaries or break-ins within the past three years, though there are no confirmed reports of stolen pathogens or missing lab equipment, Monterey officials said."
"The labs today are seeking to fill a critical role in preventing epidemics in regions where medical services and sanitation have deteriorated since Soviet times. But an equally pressing challenge is security: How to prevent the germ collections and biological know-how from being sold or stolen.
"They often have culture collections of pathogens that lack biosecurity, and they employ people who are well-versed in investigating and handling deadly pathogens," said Raymond A. Zilinskas, a bioweapons expert and coauthor of the draft report on the antiplague system. "Some are located at sites accessible to terrorist groups and criminal groups. The potential is that terrorists and criminals would have little problem acquiring the resources that reside in these facilities."
Managers of the old antiplague stations are aware of their vulnerabilities but lack the most basic resources for dealing with them, according to the Monterey authors and U.S. officials. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, budgets at the institutes have fallen so steeply that even the simplest security upgrades are out of reach. One facility in a Central Asian capital could not even afford a telephone and had no way of contacting police in the event of a break-in. At least two antiplague centers outside Russia have acknowledged burglaries or break-ins within the past three years, though there are no confirmed reports of stolen pathogens or missing lab equipment, Monterey officials said."
What's this AF Lieutenant Colonel doing when he's not allegedly defacing cars?
Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Alexis Fecteau was arrested recently in Denver for allegedly vandalizing cars at Denver International Airport.
World Net Daily published his photo.
What type of cars did he vandalize? Apparently ones with Bush bumper stickers. He supposely would black out the sticker and then use spray paint to paint an "expletive" on the vehicle.
'Lt. Col. Alexis Fecteau, who supervises 41 full-time and part-time reservists at the National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo., is suspected of vandalizing 12 cars at Denver International Airport over a six-month period, Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "Lieutenant Colonel Fecteau has been charged with one count of felony mischief and six misdemeanor counts related to the vandalism," Jackson said.'
Now, let's theorize on his future. A full time officer violates his oath by suppressing political speech, committing criminal acts, and embarrasing the service.
Can anyone say, "show cause" board?
The left wingers are massing to defend his actions.
I'm only 78% American? Jeez!
"You're as American as red meat and shooting ranges. Tough and independent, you think big. You love everything about the US, wrong or right. And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you!"
This neat little questionnaire allows you to determine your "American-ness".
Apparently I should not have admitted to drinking wine and failing to watch NASCAR. Oh, and I should have voted for a constitutional admendment against burning the flag.
It probably added hidden penalty points for the length of time one spends outside of CONUS.
Jane Fonda - we still remember about Vietnam
When I taught military history at West Point a few years ago, the cadets would enter class on the day we started the block on the Vietnam War to a picture of ol Jane Fonda sitting in the chair of a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun.
I used that picture to not only disparage the anti-war effort, but also to give the cadets a sense of the scale of the left wing anti-war effort which undermined the war effort in which our fathers so valiently engaged in for years.
Now, 30+ years after she first consorted with the enemies of liberty and democracy in North Vietnam, Jane Fonda has announced that she will tour the country protesting our war against this generation of terrorists.
Well Jane, the 42d Infantry Division has found you a piece of equipment with which you might be familar. A Soviet made anti-aircraft gun. With a seat.
Fly on over to Iraq, meet our soldiers, and have your picture taken again. Just for old times.
The caption reads, "Ms. Fonda, we're holding your personal seat in Tikrit."
Jane, we will never forget what you did during the Vietnam War. Never.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Cindy Sheehan - left wing tool
I've been observing this circus with some interest while I was back in the states.
She has my sympathy for the death of her son, an American soldier, during combat operations in Iraq.
My sympathy, however, extends no further. Her son was a volunteer who served his nation bravely. Too bad the same cannot be said for his mother.
She's entered the political world now, supported by various left wing extremist groups, and is attempting to undermine our war effort.
This blogger sums it up very nicely about why she should be allowed to meet a certain former President.
She has my sympathy for the death of her son, an American soldier, during combat operations in Iraq.
My sympathy, however, extends no further. Her son was a volunteer who served his nation bravely. Too bad the same cannot be said for his mother.
She's entered the political world now, supported by various left wing extremist groups, and is attempting to undermine our war effort.
This blogger sums it up very nicely about why she should be allowed to meet a certain former President.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Happy Birthday to Favorite Sister
Bolton at the UN - His First Day
Jim Lileks has the facts on John Bolton's first day at the UN.
I'm glad that President Bush used a recess appointment for this mission. Nothing sends a signal better to the enemy than ignoring their protests.
I'm glad that President Bush used a recess appointment for this mission. Nothing sends a signal better to the enemy than ignoring their protests.
Bummer - left wingers didn't flee after all.
Remember all the left wingers who said they would leave America after President Bush was reelected?
They lied. Again.
They lied. Again.
Is the left wing media incapable of anything?
And the media wonders why we hate them.
I just saw this on Drudge.
The NY Times is investigating the adoption records of the Judge Roberts' children.
The left can't find anything else on Roberts, so they are attacking the children.
What type of world does the left wing live in? I really can't fathom the depths of their depravity.
Glen Justice? That's a rich name for a New York Times reporter. That's the last thing in which the NY Times is interested.
I hope the blowback on the media because of this is intense, focused, and effective.
I just saw this on Drudge.
The NY Times is investigating the adoption records of the Judge Roberts' children.
The left can't find anything else on Roberts, so they are attacking the children.
What type of world does the left wing live in? I really can't fathom the depths of their depravity.
Glen Justice? That's a rich name for a New York Times reporter. That's the last thing in which the NY Times is interested.
I hope the blowback on the media because of this is intense, focused, and effective.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Howard Dean - Pride of the Democratic Party
Jeez. He has to be a Hillary plot.
He blamed the recent ridiculous Supreme Court decision on eminent domain on the "President and his right-wing Supreme Court...." How could he have done that?
For gosh sakes Howard, all the left wing justices voted for it. It was a 5-4 decision. All those conservative justices despised by you and your extremist friends. voted against it, because, SHOCKER, they believe more in the rights of the individual than the rights of the state and the friends of Democratic and Republican businessmen.
This man Dean is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party. Hope he stays in place.
He blamed the recent ridiculous Supreme Court decision on eminent domain on the "President and his right-wing Supreme Court...." How could he have done that?
For gosh sakes Howard, all the left wing justices voted for it. It was a 5-4 decision. All those conservative justices despised by you and your extremist friends. voted against it, because, SHOCKER, they believe more in the rights of the individual than the rights of the state and the friends of Democratic and Republican businessmen.
This man Dean is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party. Hope he stays in place.
