Everybody’s Doing It

Now it comes as no surprise to me that the Unites States would be copied by the other nations of the world.  Things like showers, food, and democratic principles tend to make life a little better, if not more interesting.  What I don’t understand is why they are copying our policy of invading Islamic countries.

To be fair, I see why they are an enticing target.  They are very opinionated on why they should be regarded as the elite of the world, mostly because of achievements that predate 1492, and most of them have that delightful fossil fuel that makes the world go round.

They also have traditions of possessing really weak military branches.   The chief reason for this is to make sure that the military is too incompetent to take over and depose of, ie execute, whatever present leadership that is in control.

The down side of course is that they have a tendency to blow up.  Reasons for this might be from the diet, frustration over the constant lack of rain, or from strict adherence to religious practices that were intended to gain converts when the religion was first starting out, not an entrenched one.

Now because Bush was involved in a two for one deal- invade one, invade one free.  Now the alleged reasons for invasion was at least supposed to be to be strict on terrorism, and to wipe the scum off the earth.

So of course the Israeli’s, who have had to deal with the problem of Muslim terrorists for over 50 years.  They decided to try and put an end to the slime that is Hezbollah by invading and attacking their neighbor of Lebanon.  Of course the invasion was judged as a failure, by an independent review within Israel and may have only further inflamed future terrorist scum.

Now of course we have our Turkish allies fighting our Kurdish allies in Iraq.  Apparently Iraq is a good place to invade this time of year.  Now to be fair, as good as the Kurds have been by not being whiny brats like the Palestinians, still have a militant group that is wanting their own country.  Turkey has been the target of that terrorist rage, and decided not to take it any more.

Now I should hope that the Turks but a little bit more planning into their incusion ito Iraq than the Bush Administration, and really how could they not?  They are after all the group that controlled the Middle East for centuries, and boy do I miss the Ottoman Empire.

So hey everybody it is open season on Middle East countries, so if you have always had your eye on that one particular type of resource,  go ahead Everybody’s Doing It.

…Beyond Contestation

I had the unfortunate “pleasure” of having to listen to the Glenn Beck show, and listen to his postulations on various topics.  His pronouncement that they Maya may have been right about the end of the world being 2012 because of a Obama or Clinton Presidency is particularly amusing.

I also have realized that even though he was a Vietnam Veteran, a real one unlike Bush, the level of vehemence directed towards him is very personal and apparently very heartfelt.  I thought that the Republican Party only attacked those veterans that were a part of the Democratic Party, men like Max Cleland.

(Cleland was a Vietnam Vet who lost 3 limbs defending his country, and was then attacked on his patriotism by the Republican party and likened him to Osama Bin Laden - since he was from Georgia voters fell for it.)

Amidst the raving banter that was expelled by Beck, one thing that was said seemed to ring particularly hollow.  “Liberals dislike debate because they cannot logically back up their idealogical dogma”  I paraphrased a little, but that was the basis of his argument.  Liberals assert specific truths then recoil, when challenged, because they don’t have an underlying truth from which their ideals spring forth.

Though I would not say I represent all Liberals, it would be fair to say that i am closer to being a Liberal than a Conservative.  Therefore I thought it would be necessary to speak on my opinions of an issue and the underlying truth that allows me to feel that it is just.  The fact that I need a post for the week is of mere coincidence.

Abortion- no need to start off slow lets get to it.  It is my belief that Abortion, should be rare, but legal.  The reason for this is that the procedure to have an abortion is dangerous, and comes with certain risk to the woman.  Though we are a moral society, we also are a secular one.  This is to say that although the morals and standards of behavior are influenced by religious doctrine, the necessity of our multicultural society to function disallows one religious faith to dominate society.

On the moral issue, while it is true that I believe that it is a sin, I think that the gift of Free Will must also be respected and that the Woman, Couple, that decides to take the procedure knowingly make that decision.

Military Force -  If you have the reputation for strength and the capabilities for victory, it is better to get some of what you want than fight to get all of it.  The reason being is that no matter the low odds, there is always that chance you might lose.  Vietnam, and our current military engagements are examples of when technological hubris discounts an enemies will to fight.  This is especially true of a country such as the United States where the above stated moral standards do not allow for wholesale decimation of population centers, and making the effort to separate  military targets from civilians.

When facing a guerrilla warfare scenario, such as the one we face now, it is imperative to understand the necessary parameters for victory.  The United States loses unless we have dramatic and palpable victories.  This is to say public “arrests” of terrorists responsible for the attacks in 2001, as well as the elimination of other such targets.  The boasting of prevented attacks serves no purpose other than to attempt to provide a sense of normalcy to the populace, and an attempt to secure moral support.  The enemy on the other hands wins, so long as they do not have traumatic and obvious failure.  Let us use Vietnam as the example to drive home this point.

The Tet Offensive was seen as the turning point of the public support in the Vietnam War.  While the VietCong suffered tremendous losses and the US lines held, and was a tactical victory, it was a strategic failure for US forces.  It is this same type of circumstance that we find ourselves in battling Al Qaeda, and as such need not take our eyes off the ball and place our military in precarious situations with out a plan with contingencies.  Thus I think that Diplomacy from positions of strength are the true positions that we are to be striving for, using force only when it becomes clear that the danger out ways the benefit of diplomatic stalling.

While I will be postulating on other issues that separate the ideological spectrum, I suppose these will suffice for now in attempting to give some texture to assertions.  So for now understand that these are my words, as as such are…Beyond Contestation.

Star Wars: Futile Empire

While i am sure that some may think that I am referring to the decrepit status of the Star War Franchise, they would be incorrect.  This is much better, in fact to use three words THIS…IS…AWESOME!  It turns out a US “spy satellite” is suffering from orbital decay, and will slam into the Earth at a hundred thousand miles an hour.

While that speed might be exaggerated a tiny bit, the odd of it hitting you are exactly 50%.  It either will, or it won’t.  What is unique is that apparently the school bus sized, I am betting not the “special school” kind, is apparently loaded with toxic fuel.  So that if it crashes into stuff, then a poisonous gas will kill those left alive by the crater.

While some may say that this is a ploy for Bush to define himself as the only president to defend the globe from interstellar terrorism and the obvious need for a missile shield,  they would just be cynics.  No, dear friends the President isn’t that desperate for a legacy, cause if he was we would be invading Iran right…now.

Also you could not literally com up with this stuff before Wednesday, because the writers strike was on, so you see there is no underhandedness that we have come to expect from the Bush Administration over the last very long seven years.

What will be fun is that the Navy -Accelerate Your Life- has been given the duty to shoot this sucker down.   Now the problem exists that despite the existence of the video game industry, and Fauex News attempting to slander it, shooting said satellite is not going to be easy.  They could just graze the thing and then send it on a direct path “accidentally” straight towards Mecca.  (Which would be kinda cool in one way, and cause massive problems)

Then supposing that they do shoot it down, there does exist the possibility,  that the thing may crash and burn on somebody anyway, so then everybody and their pet monkey will be trying to shoot it down.  (That includes Dick Cheney and His pet monkey Bush)

Imagine, India launching its missiles only to have Pakistan think this is a first strike to obtain Kashmir.  Then we will have the French with their twelve guys on a ladder, the whole of their space program, shooting frogs legs and patte trying to knock down the satellite.

So sit back and watch the show, cause this episode can’t be as stupid as the last three, Star Wars:Futile Empire.

Yippy Hippy

If there is one thing that can bug me more than religious conservatives, Christian and Muslim, it is the ideological mistake that spawned Hippies. Flower power is nothing more than turning sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen, and who amongst us needs that? (Guess that will get me in trouble with Virescent)

The latest consternation I have with the useless hippies is the new doucheness coming out of Berkley. While enjoying the most liberal of ridiculous policies because of the college, which for a time had a naked Indian, Native American, walking around campus, has decided to target the Marines as evil. (then of course the excess of commas will tick of Conservative Amazon-which is a misnomer)

As if planted by agents of FOX news, this douche giveses gives perfect ammo to show how ridiculous people are on the left by claiming the Marine recruiters are bad and somehow a threat to the community. Their stupid excuse is that this is a protest against the war, rather than the protests that hippies had in the Vietnam era where they called military people baby killers. (I guess that lack of coherent logic makes sense if you smoke a half ton of weed before breakfast)

They then have a 14 year old girl speak at the town meeting, my guess is that a 14 year old girl has a lot of experience in dealing with life and all its hardships, that they “Don’t hate America, but they hate war.” Well good for you, most everybody hates war. Those who don’t are usually gun runners or crazy.

What I don’t get is the “Conflict never solved anything.” bull Huckabee, that these idiots preach. Conflict solves a lot of things, it can sprout new problems when you don’t do it right, we should probably ask the leadership at Carthage their opinion, oh wait- they don’t exist because the Romans killed them. Bad Romans, don’t you know that violence never solved anything?

We should then speak to the Iriqios Nation exist as a buffer between the US and Canada, well shucks again, they don’t exist cause we beat them repeatedly with the help of fake treaties. Maybe we can speak to the Confederate States of America what their opinion is on the subject- damn when will I learn, they lost- and are now voting for Huckabee, so I guess the South may indeed “Rise Again“.

Lets also remember that we didn’t hear a peep outta the Balkans, that place in Europe where Republicans said it was treasonous for Bill Clinton to commit troops in attempting to bring democracy to a place rich with ethnic and religious conflict- nothing like the history of Iraq- when the Soviets were running the joint, mostly because if any group started messing with the other one, they all got run over by Soviet tanks. Being iron fisted is should not exist in all cases, but there are times when it is necessary. When dealing with the Middle East it probably should be the default mode.

Lets be clear war can be a brutal terrible thing to experience, especially when the leaders who are entrusted with the public trust betray that pact by having a shotty plan with no thoughts of troop withdrawal, Damn you Truman! But it is at times necessary, acknowledging the horrors that exist and making the decision knowing that their sacrifice will mean more than ones reelection. Stupid Jefferson. (UVA-ers cringe, while VA-Techers, well hell they can’t read so they can’t be mad at me)

What I am saying is this you disgusting little maggots out there in the Mary Jane smoking, hemp wearing, non bathing, French loving, Valentine’s day celebrating, Obama crushing, but McCain voting, terrorist pitying, nativity scene stealing, non football playing, dodge ball boycotting, tag promotes isolation saying, crapshoot of a town in Berkeley is that it may be your town, but it is our country- so appreciate the sacrifices those Marines accept so that you can be Yippy Skippy

Change For Changes Sake

If there is one thing that we should learn from surviving the Bush Presidency, it is that not everything one’s predecessor did is necessarily bad thing.  Clinton’s rice for calming down the North Korea nuclear program kept the country from thumbing its nose on the grand and public scale of global politics.

Bush canceling the program because North Korea would cheat on the program every now and again to make sure the food would keep coming, was a stark warning sign of how little he knew about global policies and his role as President in dealing with them.

There are certain parts of the world where change, no matter how badly needed by outside influence, cannot be changed through military intervention.  This would include all three parts of the “Axis of Evil”, as well as Africa.  (Africa is included because as famine, genocide, and an aids epidemic sweep the country-nobody seems to care so long as they teach abstinence and don’t have abortions)

North Korea has the protection from their “comrades” in China, as well as their cousins in South Korea.  China still harbors feelings of inadequacy and is uncomfortable having a democracy right on its border, and it knows that should North Korea fall, they will receive immigrants by the bucket load, and they don’t want them.

South Korea wants to keep the North propped up because of the economics involved.  Sure, they will receive immigrants too, but then the possibility of reunification will come to surface, and despite the rhetoric, nobody in the South wants that.   The reasons for this are simple especially when we look at the other example of reunification last century, Germany.

The evil, diabolic, swine infested pinko commie bastards, here to will be referred to as “Russians”, they at least provided East Germany with some sort of infrastructure.  They had roads, schools, buildings, and a really impressive wall.  Germany is still recovering economically from absorbing that half of the country.  North Korea is basically a couple of cities and farmland.  The costs of absorbing would set South Korea back generations.

The other parts of the Axis of Evil we have history.   Aparently the United States was an integrel part of the crusades.  Which I find surprising because if it were true, the Middle East would have been conquered centuries ago and not be the flea infested kitty litter box it is today.

What the next President needs to take from the Bush experiment is that having someone unstable and uncompromising is not a terrible thing.  Sure he can’t have any real power, but it is nice to be able to keep our enemies concerned.  The way we tinker this, is have someone with that personality, that actually knows what they are doing.

Threatening to invade and then do air strikes.   Though I w was thoroughly disappointed with the shock and awe that took place at the opening of Bush’s War.  This is what is good about Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, and Rush Limbaugh, they are freking crazy lunatics.  You don’t give them any REAL influence, but they keep people on their toes.

“Speak softly and carry a big stick” was the foreign policy by Teddy Roosevelt,  and it worked for many years because it understood both the global environment and the United States role in it.  The next President needs to take us back to a policy that can do the same.

Diplomacy is a tool that can only be effective when applied with leverage.   While this leverage need not be a nuclear weapon being detonated upon Mecca and Medina, pointing out the option usually gets one’s attention and shows how serious the situation now is.  Economic benefits, military contracts, hosting the Olympics are all tools that can be used to gain that leverage.

It should also be pointed out that Peace for the sake of Peace is incorrect policy as well.  While there are moral absolutes in almost any field, Global policy is the least affected, as the shades of gray are numerous. These are not easy decisions, for no matter what you decide people die.   It is the next President’s job to determine where, what nationality, and how many.

Controlled aggression, just like in poker and love, is often rewarded in global politics.   Where one gets into trouble is when we are over come by our passions, and allow aggression to go unchecked.  Influenced by God, Power, Fearlessness, Principles, or unresolved father issues, we are now living through what can happen when the desire for change goes too far.

The definition of insanity is to repeat the same cycle of decisions, and expect different results.  Change is necessary and sometimes painful.  What this country needs now is to adapt, which can be even more intimidating.  What we cannot do, is Change For Changes Sake.

Islamic Idealism

There is nothing more frustrating, or useless, as those who practice the Islamic faith.  This author typically feels the necessity to shower to get the grime of the endless stream of sleaziness that seems to follow any discussion of the actions of this particular faith.

To be fair, the delusionally devout of any faith are a challenge to deal with, but with those of Islam they feel that the only way to be devout is to endlessly attack those different from them.  This Xenophobic attitude is, if not acceptable, necessary for when one is a new religion among many and is seeking converts for its self preservation.

For those religions that are established exclaiming, “Kill It, Kill it!” to anything that is different or philosophically contrasting with your values is more detrimental to the society that you are attempting to preserve.

For Catholics, of which I am a member, this revelation came with the rise of the Protestant Revolution.   Ideas and practices that had been unquestioned before suddenly became under fire, as well as the emergence of the new religion of science.

The Catholic Church which had been the standard of Christianity in the Western World, now found itself countries, but also as a new minority.  A minority that was looked upon with disdain and even targeted for violence to settle scores, or show one’s legitimacy.

There are one of two decisions that one may take when faced with such humbling circumstances, Republicans should be taking notes, they can either lash out violently and ruining the future for all.  Or redefine what makes one a devout follower of ones particular faith.

One cannot allow scientific research to exist without moral parameters in place so that, while the end result may be noble the methods used do not undercut the achievement.  It is also true that if by destroying those who wish to learn the physical nature of the world, one undercuts the ability of a society to grow.

The West has dealt with these questions in the past, and thus redefined the nature of their religion against that of the written word, and to delve into the spiritual truths those words were to get across.  So it was that the practice of slavery, which was allowed by biblical teachings, was eventually seen as a practice that went against the very nature of how a Christian was to live their life.

What seems to be lacking in the Muslim world is the ability, or the desire, to move past the strict interpretation of the written word and examine the Koran philosophically.  Much of the resentment that the Arab/Persian region has towards the rest of the world is that they were once the cusp of technological advacements.

Philosophically, Technologically, and Culturally, the Middle East was once hailed as the standard from which all other empires would be measured.  It was when the stifling of creativity, due to the crackdown of Islamic rule that we can see the devolution of their society.

Thus arises the ideology that if they only became more devout, then they would be placed at their, suppose, proper place as among the top of the global pecking order.  So they have governments like the Taliban, which despite its adherence to the most violent of Islam’s teachings is still a toilet bowl of the world.

With the Middle East being a place of vast economic in-opportunity segments of the population then emigrate to places that do offer the possibility of a better life.  These places most often exist in the decadent West, but they seem to overlook these facts.

So they travel to the places where the reason for opportunity is directly proportional to the level of interference religious leaders exert in the society.  Much of the West has a separation of the spheres of influence between civil and religious institutions, so the diverse economy can be fueled by diverse people.

What then seems to occur in Islamic Muslims is the culture shock of freedom and opportunity, also comes with a feeling of isolation since they are now a minority the new country they travel to.  This leads them to define themselves as devout Muslims by seeking to do violence to the very place that allows them the freedom to practice their faith, unopposed.  (Try being a Christian in Saudi Arabia)

It is the level of competition that has seen the West attempt to one up each other that has driven our societies forward.  A world where everyone is on a level playing field, because everyone is at square one is not a staple of Western thought.  It is however the foundation of Islamic Idealism.

A Semi-Interesting Tuesday

So it comes to the American People the decision of who would compete for the office that will lead this once great nation for the next four years. Given their decisions to nominate and elect Bush twice, one can understand my great reservations that they will make a smart decision this time around.

So it has come to humble servants of the people such as myself to break through all the political slander, swift boat ads funded by underhanded false patriots who would much rather squander in their own self deluded filth, than enjoy a true intellectual debate.

The two Candidates for the Communist, I mean Democrat, Party are Barak Obama, and Hillary Clinton. Both would do superior jobs as an executive, especially when compared to their predecessor, Mr. Potato Head. What separates these two is a slight, but at the same time profound difference of tone.

Barak Obama has the tome of a man with a dream. These inspire us to reach for greatness because they believe that we can in fact achieve whatever goal if only we were to apply ourselves and the hard working tenacity that defines Americans. It is that innate sense of inspiration that made Reagan a cult figure for those who are to worship no god before God. (Although they are sure that God surely did not mean Reagan)

Obama faces a challenge that is the experience of George Bush. One may look at several number of wonderful history making events that this country has had to deal with from a man who was learning on the job. The world is much more complicated than American’s thought in 2000, and having a new kid on the block may not be so much better than a known commodity.

Hillary Clinton on the other hand is a woman with a plan. The devil is in the details, which is why one may always find Cheney to be found there. The tone of her campaign is to show us the path to tread to achieve greatness, because she has the ability to see things that the average American can’t. Hillary faces two great challenges. The first is that she is a woman, and an ambitious one at that. Americans may like to say women can reach for the star, just so long as she doesn’t conscience decisions along the way to make that goal a reality.

The second challenge is that with Clinton’s tone of having a plan insinuates that she has the answers. There is a reason why the science dweebs get shoved in lockers, because no one likes to feel they don’t have answers. That and it is a fun thing to do that builds one’s, not the one in the locker of course, self esteem. Being seen as smarter than everybody is intimidating, which is why Bush is such a likable guy, cause he can’t even intimidate his dog.

On the God’s Creationist but still piddle little boys, of course I mean Republican Party, they have a bit of a harder message to wade through. This is of course because Bush did not have a plan for what would happen once he stopped being President. One would think that can be seen as a theme, then then the Republican’s don’t like to think so much as be told what to do. (That is why subsidies for white farmers is necessary but subsidies for urban black people is unforgivable betrayal of our nation’s principles)

The three candidates are a POW, Mormon, and Environmentalist Evangelical. One would think given the historical stances of the Party, that the last two would be shot, rather than seen as legitimate choices. God has shown that science is false, and that global warming is merely the tool of Satan’s Scientists to keep aborting gay babies. (Although an interesting question would be if abortion is wrong, and gays should be killed, is aborting a gay baby a sin? I digress…)

McCain’s message is simple, he used to be a maverick that did not roll to the whims of the extremists of his party and is therefore a good guy. Although he looks to his competition and says I am the only truly not crazy guy left running for the nomination so I kinda have to get it. His challenge is that he became the lapdog of a man who used sleazy campaign tricks, meant to take advantage of racial discrimination, to be the nominee in 2000. Thus he is seen as a little tainted and somehow less noble than he used to be.

Romney’s message is more about the war in Iraq, wait the polls now says he cares about healthcare. Wait the new polls says that he cares about illegal immigration. Now is says that he is to make Hannah Montana tickets available for free. Abortion tolerable, Abortion very bad, Mormons are Christians too, somebody believe me! His big problem is that he is a poll (pole) driven Mormon who belongs to a party that thinks that flip flopping is a democratic tool to get elected, and that Mormons are a cult.

Huckabee is quite simply a well meaning idiot, whose message is that he wants to keep appearing on the Colbert Report. His challenges are that the writers strike is on and that Colbert has waged his own war against Conan O’brian.

That is who you get to decide will annoy us with terrible commercials until November, on A Semi-Interesting Tuesday.