A Serious War on Terror

It has been termed as the defining moment in our Nation’s history.  A dark and deadly day that showed the dedication of our enemies, and the lengths they would go to in order to kill Americans.  The anger at such an atrocity was palpable, and no words were needed in order to voice them.

It was our Allies that came to the airwaves like England’s Prime Minister Tony Blair giving the moment texture and showed us who our friends truly were, “…our profound solidarity with the American people.  We were with you at the first.  We will stay with you to the last.”  Turkey rose and evoked the NATO bond that, “An attack upon one, is an attack upon all.”  While the French, who has had its ups and downs with the US said, “We are all Americans.”

We were left with the bumblings of George W Bush, who was more interested on how  event could be used for his personal, and political gain, and that of his party.  We righteously attacked Afghanistan and the Taliban Regime that gave Bin Laden and his followers sanctuary and a base of operations which such attacks could be planned and executed.

What then occurred was a man who was so deathly afraid to be compared to his father, that he sought to minimize and distance himself from the man.  Bush II along with his political advisors, who had never seen combat, ignored the one political adviser who had hands on experience in dealing with Iraq, and the plan to finish the job that Desert Storm started was launched.

While the cost of this error in judgment has cost Billions in treasury, thousands of lives, and the political careers of truly decent men such as Senator Max Cleland, the worst causality has been of justice itself.  For those who were ultimately responsible for the attacks upon our country were not to be held accountable for their actions.  This Administration put itself and the Republican Party’s lust for political power above the United States need for Justice.

W then came to say that it the goal of the international community to eradicate terrorists with a global reach, meaning those who are able to strike US targets.  In his Presidential Campaign, Senator John Kerry said it was necessary for the US to make it so that terrorists are limited to only attacking US targets on foreign soil.  We was ridiculed by the conservatives for accepting any terrorist attacks and therefore unfit to lead.  Somehow he did not live up to the very high standard of professionalism that our current President has set.

Bush held his hold on power and thus felt that he was above the Constitution that he swore an oath to “preserve protect and defend” to the very God he pretends to hold so dear.  Instead of holding ourselves to be the very best, as is the American Tradition, Bush authorized “interrogation” techniques that only appeal to the very worst of human nature.  He allowed his subordinates to use any means necessary to subvert those who criticized his policies, leaking the secret identity of a CIA agent, even if it may further weaken our country’s national defense.

Six years we have been in this war, and have only hollow spectacles of “Mission Accomplished”.  Six years and we have the execution of a man, who was evil, but in no way responsible for the tragic events of that day.  Six years and we have no true monument to defy those who see the incomplete skyline and can still feel they are victorious.  Six years that day is still being used as a slogan for political gain, rather than a reason for a political revolution.

Words have more meaning when they are used less often.  It is in that way they hold power that can make people stop their petty bickering and partisan politics.  Instead Bush and his cronies used words to sharpen those arguments and have Americans questioning their neighbors loyalty and patriotism if they did not agree with him.

What is loathsome to think is that it was that very outcome that the terrorists wanted.  For the US to be in omnipresent fear, shred the Constitution a little bit, and to lower the standard of human dignity.  If so then Bush played into their hands beautifully, and gave them two fronts from which our enemies can kill Americans.  The fact that this Administration still plays political gamesmanship with rhetoric meant to divide, show me that Bush and his party was never interested in A Serious War On Terror.

Holy Rug Burn Batman!

While it has been no strange practice for those of any religion to show their piety through outward symbols rather than right actions, some events in Egypt have made me concerned. As the cultural identity of the Arab world continues to circulate around the religion of Islam, there are interesting variants on how to prove your piety.

BLAM!

Most would maybe assume it would be donating to the poor, they of course would be incorrect, since well they are poor since God hates them. Others may say that it is the growth of community service that has made an impact on schools and bettered peoples lives. They are also wrong.

So in what way have Egyptians sought to prove their devotion to God? Rug burns. That is how far this once great culture has fallen. Builders of the pyramids, well along with the “help” of the people of David whose country *does not exist*. Are now defining their piety by the rug burn mark of a on their forehead.

POW!

The technical term they call it is “zebibah” which is Arabic for raisin, since it is more distinguished than calling it rug burn I guess. It is “gained” praying 5 times a day which Muslims face Mecca, and touch their heads to the ground 35 times. This shows their devotion to God and if they rub it they win a prize.

Normally, I would chalk this up to good religious fanaticism rather than the blowing stuff up religious fanaticism, not that Islam is a violent religion with undertones towards reckless violence, merely its practitioners are. What makes this a special case is that it is Egypt.

BANG!

Why? Egypt is the birthplace of the Muslim Brotherhood, probably the first of the Islamo-fascists, or whatever buzzword we are calling cowards who attack innocent women and children in the guise of piety. The slogan of the Brotherhood is as follows, “Allah is our objective, the Prophet is our leader, the Koran our law, Jihad is our way, Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope“. Pretty catchy huh?

With membership in the organization the best way to protest the government, their is an undertone as well as an underground culture of proving ones faith through extreme actions. This could lead someone who is feeling the social pressures, and can either use sandpaper to the face, or be convinced to blow something up.

ZOOM!

Now the liberal, politically correct, pro-cuddling of terrorists, media will probably slander me for jumping to conclusions. Except for this little excerpt from Mona el-Naggar, a reporter for the New York Times that broke the story, describes an exchange between two brothers, where the elder has the mark while the younger doesn’t. While the older brother was teasing him, the younger said, “I pray for God, not this thing on my forehead.”

DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO

I hope I am wrong, but past experience tells me to be cautious, that and watching the Batman and Robin TV show that inspired the format of the post, Holy Rug Burn Batman!

Revelations from Nyquil

It has occurred to me over the weekend past, several epiphanies on the subject of our Muslims brothers.  The first of which, is what I call, the two circles of Islam.  The second of which is how similar the faith of Shai Islam is to their Jewish counterparts.

Now it is always risky for someone to make observations of any kind on Islam because it could quite literally blow up in your face.  So why not start off with the serious insight first, then get into the surreal after.  Why great master of the literary arts, what are the “two circles of Islam”?

Well they are the  cultural reason that we have Islamic Fundamentalism, but without the counterbalance of moderate intelligent Muslims really taking them on in debate, or on a serious police action against these misanthropes.

The wider circle of Islam would encompass all  who embrace the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, which is why if you say prophet Muhammad three times fast an Englishwoman is deported from a third world country.  This would be why the country of Indonesia still does not recognize that Israel exists, out of some misguided loyalty to their Muslim brothers.

The very much narrower of the circles would only count those who are of Arabic decent to be counted among their ranks.  For like the Africans they have not been able to go through the joy of nationalism, and therefore see each other in a much different light.  This would explain the words of a Syrian Woman who earned a medal in the olympics in the late 90’s saying, and I butcher the quote, “I win this for all Arabs and for Syria.

One would never see such an outreach of unity from almost any other part of the globe.  A Brit would never say, “I win this for all of Europe and for Britain as well”, he has been taught that his loyalties belong to his country and not to some misguided sense of oppression.

The danger to this inner circle is what it does to those who are Arabic and not Muslim, as can be seen by Mrs. Arafat who is “Christian”  by faith and therefore overcompensates by hating Israel, and the West, proving that she and her kind are true Arabs.  Whereas in other areas in the world defining oneself does not involve hating entire ethnic groups, well except for racist hate mongrels.

With that smooth transition I move to how the faith of Shia Islam is much the same as their hated rival the Jews of Israel.  This is also my best guess on exactly how the world will end so listen up.  We are all familiar with the  Judao-Christian tradition of a Messiah.  One group is waiting for him to come back, the other waiting for him to come for the first time.  (Although that does leave the distinct possibility that it is the same dude, haunting music)

What the Shia are waiting for is the 12th Imam, who is kinda like the Messiah for the Shia.  He will be the descendant of Muhammad and  will bring justice and peace, while bring Islam throughout the world.  That seems kinda contradictory to me, but I can swing with it.  There is a tradition that some Sunni embrace that a Mahdi - will come and do the same thing for their side as well. (Which also leaves the possibility that it could be the same dude, haunting music)

Then there is the fact that the God who created this world had a very sophisticated  sense of humo, as that he put the one natural resource needed to have a technologically advanced economy, in a place where they hate technology and want to go back to medieval times, not the restaurant sadly.  So it is my bet that all four of these “Savior, Messiah, Mahdi, Imam”’s could be, and in fact will be the same dude.

Then we will fight over who he really is, and since God decides those who are victorious in battle, cablammo!  It all makes sense!  At least most things do when you are suffering from the flu, hoped up on caffeine  from Mountain Dew since it is the only thing that doesn’t hurt when drinking and you are having Revelations From Nyquil.

Going On Vacation

Well this is simply fantastic.  Two countries who are well known for either funding terrorist organizations, or having more oil than sense are putting down centuries of religious rivalries and getting together for the holy Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca.

Of course I am talking about our loyal friends the Saudi’s inviting Iran’s very intelligent, and sane, President Ahmadijinejad to partake in the holy pilgrimage and visit the holy city of Mecca.  This would almost be like Mit Romney inviting Pat Robertson to go to Slat Lake City with him, without offering him everlasting salvation.  (I was going to make a remark of an inappropriate nature, so now you will just have to use your imagination.)

It may not be so bad if their wasn’t a war going on in between these countries, and that it was a goal of the founders of the Islamic Republic of Iran to destroy such Sunni Countries bowing to the will f the United States, if they weren’t involved in their own proxy war in Iraq.

Everybody knows that the Iranians have been supplying the Shia of Iraq the necessary tools and training to operate IED’s and to make sure the suicide bomber is not alone before pulling the trigger to explode.  What is not highly touted is the role that Saudi’s have been taking in arming their Sunni brethren to fight back.

Granted they didn’t need much help as most of the dismissed Iraqi army kept their stuff and ran their own personal vendetta/insurgency but they did need resupplies.  Additionally with the domestic popularity waining of the man who started this whole mess, Saudi needed to make a “Dessert Shield” of its own.  (Wow that was clever, I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but toot toot)

Now that these two have decided to be friends, in the name of Allah probably, we can only hope that this turns out to be better than the Palestinians and Israeli’s getting together, cause they have only hated each other for 60 years, so we have only a few more hundred to go.

Peace…its Going On Vacation

The More They Stay The Same

Well despite the highly touted Middle East summit that was the most serious “in some time” as our friend Condi Rice would say, turns out it was like every other summit. Even those much more professionally planned meetings have failed so to has the Bush last ditch effort at securing some semblance of a strategy.

As has happened in the past, when the cameras are gone and the Arabic and Israeli leaders are left to their own constituencies with the very real personal and dare I say, nationalistic tendencies that both parties tend to succumb to their prospective outliers.

It is for that reason that we often see the terrorists of Hamas or if it is an even year, Hezbollah attacking Israeli settlements and blowing tings up in order to maintain the level of distrust and disdain that is necessary for such mongrels to expand their base of support.  Especially when democratic “elections” give these things a legitimacy that they otherwise wold not be able to gain.

For it has been for 60 years just about that the Palestinians force uprisings and attacks in Gaza on just about every even day of every odd month of every year having a began with the number 1 or 2.  This forces the Israelis to launch counter strikes in order to maintain their policy that killing Israelis is unacceptable.  This is of course counter to the Palestinian policy of we blow them up or you blow them up, either way we “desire” peace.

All this does is serve as proof that the Palestinians have no desire to be a productive member of the international community, and would instead fight a war they cannot win, killing as many innocent people as it takes to drum false sympathy from their Arabian colleagues in order to maintain the monetary contributions necessary to keep this stupid war ongoing.

It also provides other slime from the dark corners of the world to attach it to their cause and try to tempt young people to become the recruits of Al Qaeda, which in turn facilitates more violence and destruction, to which repercussions need to be made, which then breeds more contempt for those of a “Western” persuasion.

So the cycle continues in order for the many to suffer so that evil Islamic Terrorist Fundamentals may prosper.  So it has been since the inception of Israel, so it appears it will continue for many years to come.  The only difference seems to be the technology that is used to kill innocent civilians by these misanthropes.  The more things change, The More They Stay The Same.

Qaddafi Duck

It is amazing how after a few years of lying low and really not trying to instigate too much, how the perspective on Middle Eastern leaders can change.

It used to be that Qaddafi was one of the loudest critics of the United States and needed to be taken out, while it “may” be true that we stuck a missile or two up his nose made him realize that we meant business, he finally got the point.

So he kept quiet, and merely continued to keep his own people under the boot of repression instead of trying to be a unitary figure for the Arabic world.

Now he goes to France, which is usually the first to capitulate to anyones demands, a look at their “distinguished” military history is proof of that.  Though it must be said that at least one Frenchman has shown signs of formulating spinal tissue.

Rama Yade the French Secretary of State for Human Rights, said, “Colonel Qaddafi must understand that our country is not a doormat for which any leader, terrorist or not, can come to wipe the blood of his crimes off his feet.”  I wonder if Rama is really British?

So we see the truly great mishap that was the judgment of Saddam Huissen, he could have just done what he was told laid low, and everything would have blown over, instead of blowing up.

We would still have a military to threaten Iran with, as well as the intelligence community not needing to publish its reports the same time that the President receives them.   So the carrot and stick approach may indeed have had a chance to succeed.

Bin Laden may have been found, and the Taliban eradicated, Pakistan attempting to work out their political differences in a more mild mannered approach, what with the very large and very victorious US army ready to rid the tribal lands of their unlawful opium activities.

What a world it could have been, Congress would have remained in Republican hands, and a Constitutional Ban on Gay Marriage could have been passed along with the repeal of the 22nd amendment abolishing Presidential terms.

Bush could have been our Lord and Savior, while Mt. Rushmore was refurbished to show the faces of Reagan, and his holy prophet George W the Second.  Taxes low, oil still high, corporate greed seen as the salvation of our sins.

Oh to be in that world.  Where creativity is limited to smear campaigns and half spoken truths, we have not ourselves to blame, but that evil Saddam, for performing the Qaddafi Duck.

Say Goodnight

Well today is time for the red-headed stepchild of the “War on Terror” to shine, for Afghanistan is in the News!  No they didn’t find and then kill Bin Laden, we may have to wait for a Democrat to be in the White House for that to happen and still Republicans will call them weak on defense.

Instead our friendly Afghani’s, backed by British troops, have retaken the town of Musa Qala.  This would be a town that the Taliban had taken control of somewhere around ten months ago and were using it to attack Coalition forces, and force people to practice extreme adherence to the Koran.

While this site is normally suspicious of such good news, this is a check in the win column and can facilitate new gains by the good guys.  Apparently the tribal elders of the town made an agreement with the Taliban, that they would be cool with them, so long as they could be left alone.  With the Taliban breaking that deal, maybe now the hearts and minds that we hear so much about can finally be turned.

It is often the case that you don’t really appreciate what you have till you lose it, so maybe now those village elders will not be so quick to make stupid deals with unconscionable people that take glee in the killing of the name of a “peaceful” God.

What this is also is a seminal moment where we need to galvanize the support of the Coalition forces in order to take advantage of these gains, so that we may be able to truly rid the world of these evil men and their ideology.

The type of evil that we are talking about here knows no quarter and seeks our own destruction, so therefore we need to respect their choices and eradicate them right back.   Then we can turn our attention to other organizations that seek to destroy American values, like the French.

So all you Afghani Taliban wannabes a quote from Andrew W. K.  “Your life is over now, your life is running out.  When your time is at an end, then its time to kill again.  We cut without a knife, we live in black and white.  Your just a parasite, so close your eyes, and Say Goodnight.”

Were I to be President…

My fellow Americans, I would ask that you permit me to speak plainly this evening, for the troubled times we find ourselves leaves no room for heavy handed rhetoric that is all too often used to divide us, rather than unite us.

I would speak to you about the America that I see, not through the clouded vision of a lover, who sees no imperfections in the object of his affection, but rather through the eyes of a true Patriot, who sees the imperfections and the shortcomings, but knows they can do better.

I would speak of an America where one is still judged by the color of their skin, only instead of being able to slur with words, and to discriminate openly, we do so with shotty educational systems, unfair banking practices, and through mixed messages in popular culture.

I would speak to you of an America, where the independent spirit, and the idea of absolute justice have been corrupted to be glorified violence for minds who have been warped due to social isolation, and constant belittlement.  Instead of focusing on the root cause that is making young Americans turn to mass gun violence, we blame unrelated issues in pop culture, to make it easier to ignore our own accountability.

I would speak to you of an America that is held in such low esteem around the world, that our credibility is so degraded, that even long time allies balk when we speak in terms of absolutes.  This causes our enemies to become emboldened, for we may not be everywhere at once, and need the help of others, to ensure our safety as well as others.

I would tell you those are the things I see when I look at America.  And yet, at the same time I see what, if given the opportunity and honor of the Oval Office, the very great potential to make things better.

For I see the desire to be fair, the adherence to the spirit of justice, and the never empty reservoir of hope that exists in every American.  For it is embedded within us, to not accept things as they are to to always push forward toward the next goal.  The unquenchable thirst for knowledge and peace, that binds each of us no-matter our race, creed, or political party.

It was that drive that compelled our forefathers to fight for an idea that to this day, is so fleeting, that we must ever be vigilant in its defense.   That freedom is a human right, granted not by the government to the people, but by the people and protected by their government.

It was this notion of equality and human dignity, that the civil rights process was begun by President Lincoln, articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and the responsibility of all of us here today to keep striving for the ideal.  For how are we to be the beacon of hope to the world, if we ourselves do not hold ourselves to a higher standard.

For that is what it truly means to be an American.  Unwilling to settle for second best, to always push and strive to be the best, not out of a sense of arrogance, but because the value of future achievement is greater than the value of past achievement.  Staying on the cutting edge of technology has been ever present in our history, from expansion to the pacific to landing on the moon.

Not accepting that because it “hasn’t been done before, then it cannot happen now” is what drives ingenuity.  It is for that reason that we must come together and truly be united against the threat we face, which is not limited to a small percentage of men who have corrupted religious tenants in order to obtain their own selfish goals.

The threat we face come from those who would argue that freedom, free thought without the fear of repercussions, is not an inalienable right, but something that must be negotiated for.  That political freedom and safety are incongruent with one another, and one must choose between them.

This is an argument put forth not only within the bounds of our own borders, but the global community as well.   With our world being smaller and more interconnected the spread of such false ideologies is a certain possibility.  Unless that we fulfill that potential that is the United States of America, that we assume the role we were destined to have as the New World, and the Land of Opportunity.

To change the old thought that might makes right and to truly develop the new world order, that it is indeed right that makes might.  That would be the America I would wish to see, Were I To Be President…

Iran…Can Stay

Well it certainly appears as if the trappings of being a lame duck Presidency are starting to reveal themselves.  Senior Officials jumping ship, check.  Tired rhetoric being used over and over losing its effectiveness, check.  Political opponents beginning to challenge legislation and show they have backbone, check?

What is surprising is that the people showing the most backbone to the President are the people we shouldn’t be too surprised about.   Intelligence and this President have been at odds for many years, so it is fitting the intelligence community is showing its ire at the president as well.

While this is a setback to the Administration’s seeming march to use force against Iran, the damage is much more long term. Once again we are the victims of an overreaching President, and an under-whelming Congress.  The seeming revolt of our nations intelligence agencies places us at a great disadvantage when dealing with Iran.

Had we had a competent President, this intel would have remained secret and the rhetoric used to curb Iranian nuclear technology could have been toned down, but held together reluctant allies.  Russia and China both have been more impeding of the US led sanctions, and now will more than likely bail altogether.

While it appears as though Iran is not currently seeking weapons grade nuclear material, we have to remember that they have been a country that has been funding Radical Islamic Terrorists.  Having these ties, along with nuclear material, and having every other day reserved for, “Death to America! Death to Israel!” parades.

What has hurt us in this scenario, is that the credibility of the government has been shot, due to obvious missteps, of this Administration.  Who know how much more forthcoming Iran would have been if the US military was not bogged down in their next door neighbor?

These are questions that sadly cannot be answered because of morally bankrupt people that make up the Bush Administration.  They seized on the fears of the American Public, after a catastrophic event that they did not defend against.

They sacrificed bringing those responsible to justice, in order to settle personal scores, and to extent their tentacles of power.  It is for those despicable actions that the Republican Party should be ashamed for not only allowing, but facilitating such actions.  They have sullied they very country they pretend to love so dearly.

So it appears, as though the ramifications of these actions will be only made clear with the passage of time.  When false patriots such as the Bush Administration will make another push for dictatorial power, until then Iran…Can Stay.

Czar-Prising

Well the elections in Russia are over, and I can’t even feign surprise at the outcome. Not only am I not surprised that the Czar won, nor am I shocked at the way he did it.

What is shocking to me, and should be disturbing to the West is why he did it. Putin undermined the fledgling democracy in Russia when he had no reason to do so, he would have won regardless.

Let us take a brief, stereotypical, look at the kind of leadership that the Russians hail as great. Ivan the Terrible, also killed large swaths of people, expanding Russia into the Siberian wonderland, and destroyed entire populations on the mere possibility that they may betray him.

Carrying on the tradition of might makes right is or good friend Peter the Great, who despite having a better nickname than Ivan, did some of the same nasty stuff. The modern father of Russia, Peter did some very forcible stuff in order to modernize Russia and make it a world power.

Then of course is the self named “Man of Steel” Stalin himself. Who ruled with brutal authority where morality was never even an afterthought. Stalin’s quote, “The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of a million is a statistic” gives us a unique look into his mindset.

Then of course we have Bush’s buddy Putin. Though he doesn’t have the body count, Putin gives what the Russian people typically crave: vodka. Seriously though, they desire a leader that does two things, makes decisions that makes Russia a strong global power, and gives them edible food at home.

How successful has this policy been for the Russian people? Lets put it this way, they had controlled the Balkans and most of the ‘Stans, and there was about a third of the violence that is going on now.

Putin fits this mold as a former KGB agent of making the hard decisions no matter the moral implications and only focusing on the National Interest. That happens to fit the mold of the Russian leaders to a t, combined with what the Russians call a personality, and he was golden.

What is troubling is the lengths he went to in order to secure that electoral victory, by fooling with the process. Unfortunately, rampant insecurity is also a Russian leadership trait that can have disastrous results. For there comes a time when leaders lose the ability to function competently and do more harm than good. President Bush hit that barrier in early 2000.

What these two have in common besides misunderestimating the other is a dunce, is damaging making decisions that damage their respective countries in the short term, but set precedents in place that could cause untold damage in the future.

Not that we couldn’t see this coming, as they are both self entitled personalities that believe they have moral authority to do what they wish. It also helps that their political opposition is too afraid to challenge these bullies of in their respective playgrounds. Hopefully I am wrong, but that would be Czar-Prising.