hick politics

movin' on up, to the east side

2006-05-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

and if you know where that came from, you TOO are old!

haystack has gotten the courage to go it alone, and has bought a domain name:
hickpolitics.com
come on over and set a spell...I think you'll like it.

My buddy Tim Saler did the software and layout...he's a good man. I might be able to talk him into designing a site for you, if'n you got a little moola!

The Point: News From the Front

2006-05-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

While commercial media and disingenuous detractors nip at the edges of the courage and sacrifice of our Men and Women in Uniform, I bring you this report:

** haystack's needles: **

A special note. "Operation: Noble Duty", an initiative begun by Bill Crawford, Tim Saler, and yours truly HERE and HERE is taking a lot of my time and attention. This initiative is to build a coalition of bloggers and individuals to help support the Texas Military Family Foundation who's Executive Director Julie Curtis-Win and her staff work every day to support our Soldiers-those returning from theater, and those preparing to deploy. I will be traveling to the Center on May 15 to visit with julie and the Soldiers there. I will provide updates here as they develop.

Kids Take Action

Messages from the Troops: From "America Supports You"

I'm only 19, i joined the Army last June right after high school and I just want to say "THANKS" to everyone that supports us and keeps our morale high when we get messages saying that the America people still supports us. So Thanks!
Dakota Wolfe,PV2.,US ARMY, Okla. city, Okla.

Thanks to everyone who is showing support to our country's military members... Please remember those who are coming home injured and need our support! Especially remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice 'Lest We Forget!' Your recognition of the sacrifice of our country's finest ensures we will succeed in the missions that we face! Thanks again!
Robert A. Talenti/MSgt/USAF, Irwin, Pa.

I'd like to thank my mom and my dad and my sisters for supporting me while my brothers and I are in the military. God bless them and protect them. I'd also like to thank all those civilians who supports the men and women of the US military. I love the US and its People.
Spc. Joseph Cabahug, US Army, New York City

Thank you to everyone out there that sends support. You may think that no one really reads the messages from you, but we do, and it gives us great pride to hear from you. So I would like to say that we really appreciate your support and love hearing from you, you are our reason for fighting. Thank You
Samuel Garrett / Spc / U.S. Army, Dallas Tx

Heroes in Action

America Supports You

Read What messages are being sent to our Soldiers

On our Soldiers' Kids

Call to Action

Soldier's Angels

Joint Special Operations

Help our Soldiers Call Home

Send a Package to a Soldier

Eight Strategic Pillars to Victory in Iraq:

Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgency

Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance

Help Iraqis Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government

Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services

Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy

Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law and Promote Civil Rights

Increase International Support for Iraq

Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents

President Discusses Recent Visit to Iraq by Secretary of State Rice and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld

President's Radio Address 29 April 2006

The President Discusses the Global War on Terror

The President Discusses Democracy in Iraq with Freedom House

Strategy for Victory: Freedom in Iraq

The President issues a Statement on the Formation of the Iraq Study Group

In Focus: Renewal in Iraq

In Focus: Afghanistan

National Security Strategy

The President Discusses theNational Security Strategy

Champion Aspirations for Human Dignity

Ignite a New Era of Global Economic Growth through Free Markets and Free Trade

Expand the Circle of Development by Opening Societies and Building the Infrastructure of Democracy

Develop Agendas for Cooperative Action with the Other Main Centers of Global Power

Transform America's National Security Institutions to Meet the Challenges and Opportunities of the 21st Century

Engage the Opportunities and Confront the Challenges of Globalization

UPDATED: US State Department Iraq Weekly Status Report:

** Highlights through 3 May 2006: **

1. Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgents

4/19: On April 13, MNF-I announced the killing of a wanted terrorist and known al-
Qaeda associate, Rafid Ibrahim Fattah aka Abu Umar al Kurdi. He died in an
early morning raid in Baghdad on March 27.

4/26: Soldiers from MND-Baghdad uncovered and destroyed a large weapons cache
on April 22 in two houses in a southwestern suburb of Baghdad.

5/3:Coalition forces killed the al-Qaida “Emir” of Samarra, Hamadi ‘Abd al-Tahki al-
Nissani, along with two other terrorists on April 28, approximately 15 kilometers
north of Samarra.

2. Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance

4/19: The 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, took control of an area
encompassing Balad, Al Duluyah, Yethrib, and numerous smaller villages in
Salah Al Din province on April 15 from the 1-8 Combined Arms Battalion of
Task Force Band of Brothers.

4/26: The Iraqi Army’s 1st Brigade, 8th Division, assumed security responsibility for a
nearly 11,583-square-mile area of the An Najaf Province on April 24 during a
transfer of authority ceremony with the 4th ID’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

5/3:158 new lieutenants graduated from the second 12-month Officer Basic
Course at the Iraqi Military Academy Al Rustamiyah on April 26. They will now
attend their specific branch training before their first assignment.

3. Help Iraqis to Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government

4/19: A scheduled April 17 session of Iraq's parliament was postponed by the acting
speaker on April 16, further delaying the formation of a government.

4/26: On April 22, Iraqi leaders announced agreement on the top leadership posts
for a national unity government. Iraq's new Presidency Council named Nouri
Al-Maliki Prime Minister-Designate, and he now has 30 days to finalize the
makeup of the Iraqi cabinet.

5/3:On May 3, Iraq's parliament met for its first full legislative session since it was
elected in December. Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani announced
that the formation of a committee to review the constitution would not occur
until the new cabinet is appointed.

4. Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services

4/19: Construction was completed two weeks ago on the $3.44 million Hashem
Electric Substation project in Jasim Al Khidr. The Gulf Region Division -
Project Contracting Office (GRD-PCO) project provides increased power for
residents of the Wassit Province.

4/26:Renovation is complete on the Ibn al-Mathir Maternity Hospital in Ninewa
Province. The $7 million GRD-PCO project was completed on April 18. This
hospital provides 100 beds for inpatient care and services for approximately
35,000 outpatients in the greater Mosul area.

5/3:On April 28, the northern oil pipeline security project in Tameem Province was
completed. The $1.2 million GRD-PCO project included installing new chain
link security fencing, concrete block walls around pipes and valves, and
building concrete block guard towers at various sites. This construction aids
the security forces to secure, protect, and guard the pipelines from Kirkuk to
Bayji.

5. Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy

4/19: In early April, the World Bank Social Protection Project was approved, granting $6
million to help accelerate the USAID-sponsored Social Safety Net program currently
underway in Iraq. The funds will be used to build capacity and improve efficiencies
within administrative operations in Iraq’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the
Ministry of Finance.

4/26: Iraqi Finance Minister Allawi and Treasury Deputy Secretary Kimmitt co-chaired an
April 26 roundtable discussion with U.S. and Iraqi officials on Iraq’s macroeconomic
situation. The roundtable highlighted economic progress in Iraq to date and the
economic challenges facing the new government.

5/3:The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) published an updated Key Financial Indicators
(KFI) report for the period ending April 13, meeting an important IMF Stand-By
Arrangement (SBA) requirement.

6. Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law

4/19: On April 17, a criminal expert's report was read in court which said Saddam's
signatures were on documents connecting him with the killing of 148 Shiite men and
teenagers after an attempt on his life in the town of Dujail in 1982.

4/26: On April 24, prosecutors in the trial of Saddam Hussein played an audiotape said to be
a phone call between the former Iraqi leader and one of his co-defendants discussing
the destruction of farmlands during a crackdown against Shiites in the 1980s.

5/3:The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 12 security detainees April 19
through April 25 for various crimes including illegal border crossing, possessing
illegal weapons and joining terrorist groups.

7. Increase International Support for Iraq

4/19: On April 14, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) appealed for international support to Iraqi academics
and intellectuals and called for measures to protect them from a “heinous campaign of
violence.”

4/26: On April 23, President Talabani expressed his concern over reported Iranian and
Turkish troop concentrations on those countries' borders with Iraq. Turkey has moved
thousands of troops to the border region to against PKK terrorists inside Turkey. Iran
also reportedly has moved forces to the border.

5/3:The Politiken newspaper reports the Danish government plans to reduce
Denmark's contingent in southern Iraq by one-fifth to some 400 troops.

8. Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents

4/19: In an interview with WBAP radio in Dallas on April 11, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld
said “the real battle is for the Iraqi people to fashion a government and get it in place
and win the confidence of the Iraqi people so that they can proceed forward. That
ultimately will have a favorable effect in repressing the insurgency."

4/26: Speaking to CNN on April 24, Iraqi Prime Minister Designate Nouri al-Maliki said that
“the main challenge that I see is the existence of a torn relationship in the Iraqi
community with all of the sectarian and ethnic backgrounds. There’s also a state of
misunderstanding that was spread in the last period, so I have to work first on uniting
all of these elements together and work on a measure of national reconciliation on the
basis of national dialogue and common interests."

5/3:Speaking to local reporters in Baghdad on April 26, Secretary of Defense
Rumsfeld said that the “hope is that we will see the [Iraqi] government formed
soon and that they will be people who are competent and capable and reflect the
best interests of the Iraqi people. And I must say, I came away from my meetings
with the government leaders today impressed with their seriousness of purpose,
the constructive approach they take with each other and optimistic about their
future."

Dept. Of State Section 1227 Report on Iraq: 6 April, 2006

** Main Categories **

1. Current mission and and measures taken to support it

2. Iraqi progress towards a sustainable political settlement

3. Conditions necessary for a transfer of security responsibility

4. Iraqi security forces capacity and readiness which contribute to the transfer of security responsibility

5. Criteria used to evaluate progress in that area

6. Our plan for successfully completing the mission

Dept. of State Section 2207 Quarterly Report on Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funding and Expenditures [April 2006]

** Executive Summary's Main Topics **

Introduction - 2006: A Year of Transition
1. Challenges

2. Capacity Development

3. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)

4. IRRF Projects

5. Sustainability

6. Recent Project Approvals

7. Primary Health Clinics

8. IRRF Reallocations During The Quarter

9. International Donor Assistance

10. Conclusion

** NEW: Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction **

Special Report: Lessons Learned

US Embassy in Iraq: Latest Headlines

U.S. Officials Launch Iraqi Virtual Science Library

Terrorists Desperate To Derail Iraqi Democracy, U.S. General Says

Rice Says Active International Community Contributes to Security

Rumsfeld Encouraged by Progress in Iraq

** NEW ** US Embassy in Afghanistan: Latest Headlines

Bush Says Women's Empowerment Strengthens Emerging Democracies

"Democracy Dialogues" - New Web Site from the State Department

Statement by U.S. Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann at Inauguration of the Shah Shahid Shrine

USAID: Assistance for Iraq

Special Report: Civil Society Resource Centers

Program Financial Summary through 28 April 2006

** NEW ** USAID: Assistance for Afghanistan

FY 2006 Congressional Budget Justification

FY2005-2010 Strategy

This strategy is designed to set USAID/Afghanistan's strategic direction for the years 2005-2010. This document is not intended to be a detailed operational plan for the implementation of USAID activities, which is accomplished through the Mission's annual report and Congressional Budget Justification documents.
Successful implementation of this strategy will result in the following achievements:

A robust economy with sustained growth of between 9-11% annually, leading to an increase in household yearly income from $200 to between $300 and $340.

An accountable and independently functioning electoral administration, judiciary and parliament.

A growing rural economy that provides viable options to poppy cultivation in 10 priority provinces.

A balanced power supply including locally-generated and imported sources, increasing available power supply from the current 200MW to 1200MW.

Seventy-five percent of Afghans having access to basic health care and primary education.

US Department of Defense

Quadrennial Defense Review Report

National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism

National Military Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction

Iraq reconstruction Headlines

Afghanistan Update

Current Headlines:

Bush Honors Lieutenant's Memory at Oklahoma State Commencement

Coalition Forces Kill and Detain Terrorists in Firefight

Terrorists Use Internet for Propaganda, Defense Officials Say

Northern Iraqi Units Engaged in the Fight, General Says

Coalition Shows Zarqawi Outtakes During Press Event

Army Commander in Baghdad Meets With Iraqi Provincial Leaders

Iraqi Forces More Capable in Counterinsurgency Fight

U.S. Marines, Iraqi Forces Respond to Attacks

** IN FOCUS: Alternatives to the MSM **

AFIS News Aricles

Stars & Stripes

Web Special Reports

The Pentagon Media Channel [Windows Media 7.1 required]

Defense Visual Information

US Central Command

** Statement of Gen. John P. Abizaid before the Senate Armed Services Committee **

Multi-National Forces: This Week in Iraq

** Press Releases **

CH-47 CRASHES IN KUNAR PROVINCE

AFGHAN BOY TO RECEIVE LIVE-SAVING SURGERY IN THE U.S.

ISF, COALITION FORCES LAUNCH OPERATION UNITED

TWO CACHES DISCOVERED EAST OF BALAD RUZ

THREE SUSPECTED INSURGENTS ARRESTED AFTER FLEEING CACHE SITE, TESTED POSITIVE FOR EXPLOSIVE RESIDUE

COALITION COMMANDER CONDEMNS SCHOOL BURNING

TF TIGER UNIT FINDS WEAPONS CACHE IN PARWAN PROVINCE

IEDS FOUND IN PAKTIKA, ZABUL AND KANDAHAR PROVINCES

TERRORISTS KILLED AFTER FIRING AT COALITION FORCES

** IN FOCUS: What Extremists are Saying **

Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq

Multi-National Security Transition Command: Press Releases

Resident leads troops to cache

Troops get tip, find cache

Officers find explosive device near Al Kut

Soldiers detain two near Fallujah

Troops detain two near Saqlawiyah

Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

DVIDS Headlines:

More Than 300 Fallujan Men Brave Danger to Join Police Force

Connecting the World One Wire at a Time

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Troops Keep in Focus Mission in Iraq

Chaplain Continues Gospel Services at Taqqadum

Task Force Optometry Team Has ‘eyes On’

Servicemembers Go Unplugged at Q-West

Quick Reaction Force Keeps Taji Troops Safe

** NEW: Image Gallery **

Military Branch and Unit Publications

Featured Editions This Week:

Bagram Bullet

Iraq Reconsruction Update

** NEW: Air Force News**

** NEW: Army News**

** NEW: Navy News**

** NEW: Marine News**

America is fighting a war against Terrorism. On September 11, 2001 we were forced to say so publicly. Before that day, this sleeping giant was content to swipe at individual acts as they happened. When 3,000 of our souls were taken from us, we emerged on the other side having survived, but finding ourselves as a Nation mortally wounded. When the fires were finally put out, and as many of the bodies identified and claimed as possible, we arose from the ashes to face our enemy with resolve and righteous indignation. The phrase "Never Forget" meant something then, and for those engaged in the fight, it still means something today. We are in a war, and we must win.

Today, the two most active theaters of this war are Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Civilian leadership and our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for US, and in our stead. We owe them loyalty, support, honor, and commitment. Not through Political machines; power-hungry self-important aspirants to the halls of Congress or the Whitehouse, but through our direct involvement with, and understanding of the evils they face and the accomplishments they continue to make with dignity, courage, and faithful execution of the mission.

Now, go out and seek the truth from those who fight for all of us each and every day

Operation: Noble Duty

2006-05-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day 2006: Honoring our Soldiers

A Coalition of Bloggers is being formed for a “Supply Drive” to help The Texas Military Family Foundation, and the Soldiers they are working so very hard to honor and support. Julie Curtis-Win, Executive Director, has dedicated her life to this cause, and she needs YOUR help.

“The Texas Military Family is an organization with a small staff, a few great volunteers, and a lot of love. TMFF provides family members of returning soldiers flags to have while they await the arrival of their loved ones. TMFF also assists all deploying soldiers with playing cards, stickers, phones and a hug of encouragement before they load the plane to go forward on their mission.”

Operation: Noble Duty is our way of saying Thank You; to Julie, to the TMFF and to all the brave young men and women in uniform that Julie and her staff work with every day.

Sponsored by Bill Crawford of “allthingsconservative.typepad.com”, haystack of “NoEndButVictory.com”, and Tim Saler of “TimSaler.com”, we are asking for donations in many different areas. While money is always helpful, there are many other things that TMFF desperately needs. Please contact us to find out how YOU can help…and let’s give something back for those who give so much for us.

Bill Crawford: alamocitycommando@yahoo.com
Haystack: hickpolitics@gmail.com
Tim Saler: public@timsaler.com

TMFF NEEDS List

Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Razors
Shaving cream
Lotion
Soap
Shampoo
Q-tips
Chap Stick
Eye drops

Small toiletry items are bagged for barracks bags for soldiers returning home along with a toothpaste and toothbrush. This simple act allows the soldier something clean and fresh and gives him/her a little time to get home before they have to go shopping.

The larger toiletry items are distributed to soldiers upon arrival to offset the long periods of time they are training before deploying. This helps leave more $$ at home for families, these things can be packed with the soldiers when it is time to deploy and helps save shipping costs by the TMFF.

We are in need of large supplies of coffee, ice tea mix, Gatorade mix, cream and sugar packets, stir sticks and could use thousands of 8oz Styrofoam cups. Packaged crackers, candy/cookies, nuts, gum we use at the Soldier Readiness Processing Sites as well as providing to the families while waiting for incoming planes.

Soldier Readiness Processing Sites are where the soldiers receiving their initial briefings, go to medical, dental, legal and get vaccinations. It is a long day and soldiers will not get out of line to go eat. It is a simple way for us to thank them for what they are doing or what they have done. This process is done for all outbound and inbound soldiers.

Our facility provides relief to soldiers and includes the use of a small kitchen. We are always needing groceries, canned food, frozen items, brownie mixes, etc. The refrigerator seems to provide comfort to those soldiers that are home recuperating. Opening the door just to see what is inside brings a touch of home and familiarity back to these soldiers. Grocery coupons to HEB or Walmart.

Office supplies: We are in desperate need of a new copy machine. Soldiers are encouraged to keep copies of their medical records and our machine is now broken.

We use 49A printer toner for our computer printer. We purchase 5 of these a month.

Copy paper for the printer.
Large envelopes 9X12 for records
Office supplies, such as CD’s, recordable DVD’s, staples,
Panasonic fax rolls
Ping pong balls and paddles
A Volleyball net
8X10 enclosed trailer
1 – 15 passenger van
4X6 flags for family members waiting for their loved ones
Kleenex
Baby wipes – these are also used on soldiers that pass out at the SRP sites

Garden equipment (soldiers recuperating have been taking care of our ever growing garden) this helps the soldier pass time between doctor’s appointments and surgeries.

Letters to the soldiers of encouragement

Sponsorship of our “Welcome Home T-shirts” that are given to all inbound medical retention soldiers

A Car to raffle off to raise money for funding of our many events

Critically Important Cause

2006-04-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

I live in Texas, within an hour of one of MANY wonderful organizations who's sole mission in life is to love and support our Soldiers. As much time and energy as I spend researching good news from theater, and the hopefulness that our Politicians will come around and realize the error of their ways in the pitiful lack of support they show in many cases on Capitol Hill, I am actually ashamed I didn't hear about these folks sooner.

A good friend of mine, Bill Crawford, of All Things Conservative and National Review Online fame tipped me to the Texas Military Family Foundation , and I want everyone here to know about them, visit their website, and donate ANYTHING you can to their cause.

They recently lost a major donor and need our help. Bill will be doing a story for NRO soon, and has written about TMFF at his blog. Please, take some time to visit with Julie in person, on the phone, or at her website. She takes our wounded and weary and downtrodden men and women in, loves and nurtures them, and helps renew their will to live and move on.

Politicing war AND Immigration

2006-04-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is too new for detailed research, but Drudge is screaming that the Senate has moved to cut 1.3 billion off the War and Hurricane Relief appropriation and divert it to the Border. This is apparently from Judd Gregg, who moved for this amendment to the Emergency Appropriations bill runninig through Congress right now.

Hillary's claim:

"...Gregg's cuts would "take money from troop pay, body armor and even joint improvised explosive device defeat fund. Now that is a false choice and it is a wrong choice."

will certainly help her claims of supporting the troops in the eyes of the middle of her party.

Judd Gregg from NH (a man I once voted for when I lived there) defended himself against this saying

To come down here and allege that these funds are going to come out of the needs of the people on the front lines in Iraq or Afghanistan is pure poppycock."

Bush has threatened a veto; not based on the diversion of funds to the border but instead for Congress failing to keep the amount at 95 billion instead of the 106 billion it appears headed for. If ever there was a veto I would enjoy (and there WOULD have been many) this one is it.

And not because I have a problem with giving the border badly needed cash. My problem with this whole boondoggle is that our political heroes will be able to SAY they are trying to address issues at the border and with the larger problem of immigration, while in actuality they will have accomplished nothing more than throwing money at a problem (and an insufficient amount at that, IMHO) and avoided once again their CIVIC duty to address these problems through legislation to fix the problem once and for all.

I want to know what others think. I personally think this is playing chess with soldiers and immigrants alike, while only further showing their political survival is their primary motivation, and that they really could care less about Hurricane victims, Soldiers, State and National Sovereignty and Security and even fundamental Fiscal Responsibility...and they all are due a fair amount of shame.

The Point: News From the Front

2006-04-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

vol. IV, 1st Edition, 20 April 2006

[Note from haystack: I apologize to those of you who have come to look forward to these reports. Easter and all...with all my grandbabies I just felt the need to take a little time off for them. But, the sugar high is over, the conversations about Jesus with my 6 year old Granddaughter Katie behind me, I return with these latest updates...]

While commercial media and disingenuous detractors nip at the edges of the courage and sacrifice of our Men and Women in Uniform, I bring you this report:

** haystack's needles: **

Heroes in Action

America Supports You

Read What messages are being sent to our Soldiers

On our Soldiers' Kids

Call to Action

Soldier's Angels

Joint Special Operations

Help our Soldiers Call Home

Send a Package to a Soldier

Eight Strategic Pillars to Victory in Iraq:

Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgency

Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance

Help Iraqis Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government

Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services

Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy

Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law and Promote Civil Rights

Increase International Support for Iraq

Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents

The President Discusses the Global War on Terror

The President Discusses Democracy in Iraq with Freedom House

Strategy for Victory: Freedom in Iraq

The President issues a Statement on the Formation of the Iraq Study Group

In Focus: Renewal in Iraq

In Focus: Afghanistan

National Security Strategy

The President Discusses theNational Security Strategy

Champion Aspirations for Human Dignity

Ignite a New Era of Global Economic Growth through Free Markets and Free Trade

Expand the Circle of Development by Opening Societies and Building the Infrastructure of Democracy

Develop Agendas for Cooperative Action with the Other Main Centers of Global Power

Transform America's National Security Institutions to Meet the Challenges and Opportunities of the 21st Century

Engage the Opportunities and Confront the Challenges of Globalization

UPDATED: US State Department Iraq Weekly Status Report:

** Highlights through 12 April 2006: **

1. Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgents

4/5: Iraqi Army and US soldiers detained 17 anti-Iraqi forces personnel and
discovered four weapons caches during Operation Red Light II in Salah Ad Din
province March 31.

4/12: On April 6, MNF-I officials announced the capture of Muhammed Hila Hammad
Ubaydi, aka Abu Ayman, in the al Mahmudiyah neighborhood of southern
Baghdad. Investigators delayed notice of his capture on March 7 until DNA testing
confirmed Abu Ayman's identity.

2. Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance

4/5: For the first time the Iraqi unit operated independently from the 4th
Sustainment Brigade, its American de facto higher headquarters. The
operation was the culmination of months of effort from the 4th Support
Battalion's Taji-based units, and 189th Corps Support Battalion.

4/12: First Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, took control of the Samarra and Tikrit
battlespace from the US Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
during a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Danger on April 3 in the Salah Ad
Din Province.

3. Help Iraqis to Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government

4/5: Senior members of Iraq's Shiite Alliance bloc publicly called for Ibrahim Jafari
to step down as prime minister to break months of deadlock over a national
unity government.

4/12: On April 9, Iraq's acting speaker of Parliament Adnan Pachachi said he would call
in the coming days for parliament to convene.

4. Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services

4/5: US Army Corps of Engineers’ construction is complete on the Basrah/Umm
Qasr water supply in Az Zubayr, Basrah Province. The $16.1 million project
will provide a reliable clean water supply to 2.5 million people in the Basrah
and Dhi Qar Provinces.

4/12:Construction is complete on three US Army Corps of Engineers projects for
the Fathah River Crossing in Al Tameen Province. The oil lines will restore the
pre-existing crude oil corridor capacity, restore refined oil distribution, and
enhance the Bayji Power Plant’s electrical capability.

5. Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy

4/5: Security Financial Services, Inc., based in Michigan, rolled out its first pre-paid
purchase and Internet shopping cards in Iraq on April 2.

4/12: The Central Bank of Iraq’s Banking Supervision Department (BSD) completed its first
comprehensive On-Site Examination Report and Off-Site Examination Report in April,
which will help identify emerging systemic problems and represent a significant step
towards a modern risk-based supervisory process and a sustainable economic
framework.

6. Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law

4/5: On April 4, the Iraq High Tribunal announced new criminal charges against Saddam
Hussein and six others, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity
stemming from a 1980s crackdown against Kurds.

4/12: On April 5, the Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 22 security detainees for
various crimes including illegal border crossing, coordinating deadly attacks and
joining terrorist groups.

7. Increase International Support for Iraq

4/5: Bulgaria sent the first troops of a 150-strong guard unit for duty at a refugee camp in
Iraq. The new NATO member is sending 120 soldiers and 34 support personnel to
guard a camp of Iranian refugees in Ashraf, some 40 miles north of Baghdad.

4/12: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the bombing of the Buratha
mosque in the Al Adhamiya area of Baghdad.

8. Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents

4/5: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her visit to Iraq on April 2, stated that
“And indeed the international partners, particularly the United States and Great Britain
and others who have forces on the ground and have sacrificed here, have a deep
desire and I think a right to expect that this process will keep moving forward, because
it is after all the political process that will disable those who wish to engage in violence
against the Iraqi people.

4/12: In a joint op-ed released to the Los Angeles Times on April 11, Ambassador Zalmay
Khalilzad and General George Casey reiterated to the American public the
achievement in Iraq and the US commitment to democracy: “Americans and Iraqis can
be proud of what our common efforts and sacrifices have achieved…even as we
acknowledge that challenges remain to reaching the goal of a stable and democratic
Iraq.”

Dept. Of State Section 1227 Report on Iraq: 6 April, 2006

** Main Categories **

1. Current mission and and measures taken to support it

2. Iraqi progress towards a sustainable political settlement

3. Conditions necessary for a transfer of security responsibility

4. Iraqi security forces capacity and readiness which contribute to the transfer of security responsibility

5. Criteria used to evaluate progress in that area

6. Our plan for successfully completing the mission

Dept. of State Section 2207 Quarterly Report on Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funding and Expenditures [April 2006]

** Executive Summary's Main Topics **

Introduction - 2006: A Year of Transition
1. Challenges

2. Capacity Development

3. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)

4. IRRF Projects

5. Sustainability

6. Recent Project Approvals

7. Primary Health Clinics

8. IRRF Reallocations During The Quarter

9. International Donor Assistance

10. Conclusion

** NEW: Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction **

Special Report: Lessons Learned

US Embassy in Iraq: Latest Headlines

White House Report, April 19: Iraq, Personnel

Nations Must Continue Security in Iraq, Diplomacy in Iran

Coalition Forces Must Continue To Support Iraq, U.S. General Says

Carpentry Workshop in Iraq Creates Jobs for the Jobless

USAID: Assistance for Iraq

Program Financial Summary through 14 April 2006

Iraq Weekly Update through 14 April 2006

US Department of Defense

** NEW: Quadrennial Defense Review Report [from 2001 but a MUST read] **

"The attack on the United States and the war that has been visited upon us
highlights a fundamental condition of our circumstances: we cannot and
will not know precisely where and when America's interests will be
threatened, when America will come under attack, or when Americans
might die as the result of aggression. We can be clear about trends, but
uncertain about events. We can identify threats, but cannot know when
or where America or its friends will be attacked. We should try mightily to
avoid surprise, but we must also learn to expect it. We must constantly
strive to get better intelligence, but we must also remember that there will
always be gaps in our intelligence. Adapting to surprise - adapting quickly
and decisively - must therefore be a condition of planning.
The Quadrennial Defense Review was undertaken during a crucial time of
transition to a new era. Even before the attack of September 11, 2001, the
senior leaders of the Defense Department set out to establish a new
strategy for America's defense that would embrace uncertainty and
contend with surprise, a strategy premised on the idea that to be effective
abroad, America must be safe at home. It sought to set the conditions to
extend America's influence and preserve America's security. The strategy
that results is built around four key goals that will guide the development
of U.S. forces and capabilities, their deployment and use:

Assuring allies and friends of the United States' steadiness of
purpose and its capability to fulfill its security commitments

Dissuading adversaries from undertaking programs or
operations that could threaten U.S. interests or those of our
allies and friends

Deterring aggression and coercion by deploying forward the
capacity to swiftly defeat attacks and impose severe penalties for
aggression on an adversary's military capability and supporting
infrastructure

Decisively defeating any adversary if deterrence fails"

National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism

National Military Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction

** New: Iraq reconstruction Headlines **

** New: Afghanistan Update **

UPDATED: US Department of Defense War on Terror - Current Headlines:

America Supports You: NBA Trophy Tour to Visit U.S. Military Bases

Seabees Building Dormitory for Djiboutian Students

Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Provide Medical Aid

Pier Construction Project to Help Djiboutian Village

Group Meets to Discuss Way Forward in Afghan, Pakistani Cooperation

America Supports You: Michigan Police Help Iraqi Colleagues

Governors Praise Troops Following Middle East Visit

** IN FOCUS: Alternatives to the MSM **

AFIS News Aricles

Stars & Stripes

Web Special Reports

The Pentagon Media Channel [Windows Media 7.1 required]

Defense Visual Information

US Central Command

** Statement of Gen. John P. Abizaid before the Senate Armed Services Committee **

** NEW From Multi-National Forces: This Week in Iraq **

The doctors of Diwaniyah

Transition teams making a difference

Fallujah’s new police station

** Press Releases **

NEW POD PUTS CAS A PHONE CALL AWAY

CACHE SITE CONTINUES TO PRODUCE MUNITIONS

AFGHAN OFFICIALS VISIT VICTIMS OF SCHOOL ATTACK

TRIPARTITE COMMISSION 16TH MEETING

SPARTANS, KUNAR GOVERNOR CONFER ON SECURITY, RECONSTRUCTION

IRAQI CITIZEN'S TIP LEADS TO MND-B SOLDIERS CAPTURING WEAPONS CACHES

BLAST DESTROYS IRAQI POLICE STATION IN YUSAFIYAH

TRAINEES GRADUATE BASIC TRAINING, BECOME AFGHAN ACADEMY CADETS

AFGHANS, COALITION FORCES THWART TERRORIST ATTACKS

** IN FOCUS: What Extremists are Saying **

Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq

Multi-National Security Transition Command: Press Releases

14 April :: Troops find cache in Baghdad

14 April :: Bombing suspects detained in Mosul

14 April :: Terrorist falls from truck, caught by police

12 April :: Man kills himself, wounds cohort in IED blast

12 April :: Iraqi Soldiers detain suspected terrorist

06 April :: Mosul police find cache

06 April :: Troops detain five near Ramadi

06 April :: Troops repel attacks, nab 10

Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

DVIDS Headlines:

PAX Terminal Gives Passengers a Lift

COSCOM Makes Long Awaited Transformation Into 1st TSC

Charlie Daniels Wraps Up Weeklong Tour for Deployed Troops in Iraq

Northern Governor’s Conference

Cold Steel “drops In” on Neighboring Town

2-17 Cavalry Soldiers Stay Trained While in Fight

Marine Engineers Build Maintenance Bay for Iraqi Mechanics

** NEW: Image Gallery **

Military Branch and Unit Publications

Featured Editions This Week:

Desert Bulls

Desert Voice

** NEW: Air Force News**

** NEW: Army News**

** NEW: Navy News**

** NEW: Marine News**

America is fighting a war against Terrorism. On September 11, 2001 we were forced to say so publicly. Before that day, this sleeping giant was content to swipe at individual acts as they happened. When 3,000 of our souls were taken from us, we emerged on the other side having survived, but finding ourselves as a Nation mortally wounded. When the fires were finally put out, and as many of the bodies identified and claimed as possible, we arose from the ashes to face our enemy with resolve and righteous indignation. The phrase "Never Forget" meant something then, and for those engaged in the fight, it still means something today. We are in a war, and we must win.

Today, the two most active theaters of this war are Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Civilian leadership and our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for US, and in our stead. We owe them loyalty, support, honor, and commitment. Not through Political machines; power-hungry self-important aspirants to the halls of Congress or the Whitehouse, but through our direct involvement with, and understanding of the evils they face and the accomplishments they continue to make with dignity, courage, and faithful execution of the mission.

Now, go out and seek the truth from those who fight for all of us each and every day

Terrorism: Part Two

2006-04-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

I have a wonderful friendship with a woman, yes WOMAN, working in and around the distribution and use of IRRF funds arena. She is a fine person doing God's work (by any name). She is in Baghdad as we speak, facing tremendous security problems, and trying to help her people rise up from their own ashes and build a better life for themselves and their families.

I asked her to read THIS diary I posted here at RS because I was interested in her opinion. As she always does, she countered with a link of her own.

I ask everyone here at RS with serious commitment to understanding the problem we face in the fight against fill-in-the-blank [Terrorism, Islamo-Fascism, Extremism, Insurgency, Jihad, etc] to put down your religion, put down your politics, put down your foregone conclusion and read this rather well done perspective. This is no sales pitch on websites, or diaries...it is an offer of an opportunity to expose all of us to a different perspective than we have seen anywhere around these parts (at least that I have come across).

In order to get to the document, first travel HERE, then select the "Articles" tab, and navigate to the article called:

Contemporary Responses to Terrorism among the Abrahamic Religio-Political Movements:An Invitation to Dialogue

Any meaningful dialog and discussion here will be communicated back to her should such discussion warrant it.

A Refreshing Perspective on Iraq

2006-04-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be aware that I spend a fair amount of time over at NoEndButVictory.com. In my role there I am truly blessed to have met and built friendships with many US Military personnel at CentCom, and with Iraqis and US Citizens who originally came from Iraq. With all we hear in the US media about All-Things-Bad-in-Iraq™ I am constantly energized by the news and information coming from them; my faith and hope are regularly renewed and refreshed.

What follows is a letter from a new friend we recently made by the name of Lawk Salih, who has his own very well assembled website lawksalih, and has asked that I get a message from him out to as many Americans as I can...His letter below:

Greetings,

I have written the following piece on Iraq and would like it
published on your website. I am originally from Iraq and would
like my opinion heard by the U.S. public.

Thank you,

Lawk Salih

The Liberation of Iraq
Analysis and solutions

By Lawk Salih
April 4, 2006
www.lawksalih.com

On April 8th, 2003 the U.S. and Coalition forces entered Iraq to in
order to overthrow Saddam Hussein's tyrannical regime. The decision
was made by the U.S. government after the terrorist attacks
occurred in the United States that damaged the Pentagon and brought
down the Twin Towers in New York City. Three thousand innocent
lives were taken by extremist Muslims originating from the UAE and
Saudi Arabia in corporation with the Al-Qaeda Network based in
Afghanistan.

With the support of the American public, President Bush made the
decision, along with the British Government, to destroy all
terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Iraq. The decision
also freed the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. It helped them
freely elect their own government, ministries, and to run their own
affairs without interference from any brutal dictators such as
Saddam in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

This invasion caused a harsh reaction by terrorist organizations
around the world, primarily the Al-Qaeda group in Afghanistan. It
allowed them to recruit weak-minded individuals and they managed to
brain wash and prepare them for suicidal attacks against Iraqis and
U.S. forces. These merciless groups attack innocents without any
hesitation and their tactics are despicable. They behead them and
kill powerless children and women in order to promote a disgusting
ideology within the region and to create hatred towards western
democracy. Video tapes have shown their attacks on government
institutions, educational facilities, and supermarkets that
outraged millions of people around the world. Their attacks have
led to the murder of tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and
innocent people.

We marked the third year of the invasion this year and it seems
like the U.S. government has done its job removing Saddam Hussein
but still has trouble securing a government body in Iraq that will
defend itself and help fight terrorism. The U.S. government is
currently training the Iraqi army and security forces to defend its
citizens and help draw down the number of U.S. troop in Iraq. The
media in the U.S. and throughout the world has criticized the way
the U.S. is handling the war in Iraq. They have published numerous
articles that have heavily criticized US actions. However, they
fail to communicate the "good things" that are happening in Iraq.
Nearly 2,000 educational institutions have been rehabilitated with
USAID funding, unemployment has dropped considerably, and more
hospitals are being built in the rural areas.

In order for the U.S. to decrease its death toll in Iraq will have
to train the Iraqi forces as soon as possible to do the actual
fighting against these filthy jihads individuals who are willing to
take innocent live out and create chaos to create an anti-U.S.
alliance within Iraq. The training of Iraqi forces is vital to the
withdrawal of U.S. forces. They need to be well trained to take on
the security responsibilities of Iraq as a whole and to secure its
borders from foreign fighters. The U.S. needs to empower non-
religious groups to promote a modern society in Iraq and to respect
self-determination and basic human rights. By supporting a Shia-
led government, this will help create another Iran in the region
and it will be difficult for us to fight terrorism in the region.
They promote a secular government based on religious laws (Sharia)
to limit freedom of speech, media, and self determination. We need
a government that will promote a free democratic Iraq with
prosperity and equal rights for all including women and children.
The new government will need to recognize women's role in the
society and a government that will not deprive women from getting
education and the right to choose their own destination. Iraqis
need a government that is not based on a religious constitution.
Rather, they need a constitution that will serve the country as a
whole without any religious interference.

The Kurds have done a tremendous job promoting democracy,
individual's rights and free media. They have been busy
reconstructing the northern part of Iraq (Kurdistan) with new
schools, hospitals and government institutions. The region is safer
then most places in the middle-east; they're fighting terrorism
along side of the United States and the Coalition forces to free
all Iraq from extremist Muslims. They have given the right to women
to run in the governing council. There are currently two
ministries running by women from the region. It is quite an
improvement for a region that was deprived and oppressed by the
previous tyranny of Saddam Hussein.

Terrorism: A "Controversial" Term

2006-04-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

My morning routine includes scanning the headlines of a good 30 news-based internet sites over my first of too many cups of coffee. My closest friends and family have considered executing an "intervention" on my behalf, and have only been prevented from doing so by my reminding them that many of my blog friends probably do twice that. And, so it was this morning that I found THIS piece of news, indicating that Hamas considers the suicide bombing of Israeli citizens eating falafels an appropriate form of self-defense. A little more scanning takes me HERE and HERE where it gets a little more personal. [h/t Israpundit and Captain'sQuarters]

Remembering a diary HERE, and another one HERE, and reading through THIS, and THIS, and THIS, and finally coming across THIS, I decided I had had enough. I decided to see just WHAT the definition of terrorism actually IS, officially.

Going to Wikipedia I find that terrorism doesn't even HAVE a universally accepted definition; that it apparently is in the "eye of the beholder" so to speak. Apparently, if you are a victim of terrorism, you are inclined to define it as:

"indiscriminate," "targeting of civilians," or executed "with disregard for human life."

If, however, you were so inclined as to use terrorism to further your cause, it would be considered:

a strategy of using coordinated attacks that typically fall within the time, manner of conduct, and place commonly understood as unconventional warfare.

Isn't that nice...

No one should be surprised to learn, again in Wikipedia, that terrorists themselves have a rather kinder, gentler way of defining themselves:

"those accused of being "terrorists" rarely identify themselves as such, and instead typically use terms that refer to their ideological or ethnic struggle, such as: separatist, freedom fighter, liberator, revolutionary, vigilante, militant, paramilitary, guerrilla (from Spanish "small war"), rebel, jihadi or mujaheddin (both meaning "struggler"), or fedayeen ("prepared for martyrdom")."

So, as rancher and others have tried to articulate, our friends in the media, perhaps frozen by the lack of a universally accepted terminology, can't seem to call it as us "ill-informed" amateurs see it; Murder.

The notion that the term "terrorism" is controversial is a great indicator for why we are not doing well fighting against it. If one prescribes to the idea that terrorism is a form of self-defense, it becomes easier to explain away capitulating to its demands under the auspices of trying to find a balance in dealing with those who would use terrorism to further their cause(s), or defend themselves against some perceived threat.

I can't believe I have to even suggest what I consider to be patently obvious, but we apparently need to define terrorism before we can EFFECTIVELY fight to stop it. According to THIS very educational and eye-opening thesis written by Jeffery Record for the Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College, we have over 100 different definitions for it within our own government. How is that possible? And, while they "seem" similar enough in context, the content variations leave plenty of loophole room for interpretation. [Author's Warning: If you read Dr. Jeffery's work, be prepared-he makes the case that we are ALL terrorists to one degree or the other. Perhaps that case can be made of any who would wage war, but make sure you haven't had too much coffee before you get to reading...]

I am deeply troubled by the "flexibility" of the interpretation and meaning behind the WORD "terrorism", and I am fearful that the fight we are waging against it is severely hampered by whose side you choose to be on in defining it.

The Price of Ambivalence

2006-04-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

In the years since President Bush took office, those who would have his job or would help others GET his job, have done (what must be fairly pointed out) exactly what they SHOULD be doing, and likely what we on the right would do and HAVE done when the tables were turned.

[Note: Compulsory graciousness ends here]

In these 5 odd years, we have witnessed the gunning down of a Commander in Chief beyond the pale. I am aware that this is not a first; much debate has swirled about past Presidents and their own villification and demonization in times of war, but I have yet to see or hear that any of those past Presidents' critics went on to claim responsibility for causing the US to lose a war or insert, in the vacuum of defeat, tyrannical heads of state and subsequently cause the subjugation and oppression of their peoples.

At least as far back as the (l)affable President Jimmy Carter, liberalism and her mouthpiece the so-called mainstream media, have embarked on a path of understanding; of compassion and putting themselves in the shoes of the enemy, and sadly, at the mercy of them. Liberalism gave birth to apologizing for being the greatest power on earth, and set out to level the playing field (much as they LOVE to do in Domestic politics), and has contributed in part to the emergence of rogue states that now demand attention, command respect, and garner fear among her peoples and her neighbors. These countries might have otherwise remained second class and pitiful on the international scene, but now they stand in the crosshairs of guns the left has loaded with rubber bullets.

Under the Administration prior to George W. Bush, we reduced funding for intelligence and for defense. We closed military bases and installations, and in showing a "kinder, gentler" America to the world through repeated capitulation to the "new world order", we implicitly announced that we chose weakness as the means to show "good faith"...that these policies would somehow show we were to be trusted not feared; this last a FAR cry from the approach used by the sadly missed (and now dramatically needed again) Gipper.

All around us today there is uncertainty. Some camps are uncertain about the legitimacy of our President. Some are uncertain about our roles in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in places like Darfur or the Balkans. Some fear we find ourselves in wars for which sound, undeniable justifications can be scarcely found, or are insufficient to support the actions we have subsequently taken. Many among us fumble and struggle to get our arms around immigration, or Judges, or the state of Conservatism in America. I have personally been troubled by either my own naivete, or a lack of quantifiable articulation of fact and import on many topics.

While we have been uncertain, and ambivalent, and unsure and wringing our hands as a Nation, our modern-day enemy Islamo-facism has been growing stronger, more powerful, and increasingly bolder. While we have been resting after President Reagan tore down the Great Wall and stared down the oppressive and tyrannical ways of Communism our enemies have been growing in numbers. While we have worried about world hunger and aids and green house gases, our enemies have gotten weapons, established back-door supply channels, and have indoctrinated themselves in the ways of death and chaos.

Our enemy declared holy war. We ignored them. They brought the fight to American soil. We finally responded. While we wage the fight the best we can, the ambivalence rises again. While they wage their religious war we busy ourselves with trying to frame™ this "localized threat" as a law enforcement issue; a battle with thugs or insurgents or lawbreakers or unemployed teenagers. Many go out of their way to remind us that this is NOT a war with Islam...just havin' a little trouble with some of the disgruntled ones among them.

The President of Iran, for one, is not an underemployed teenager, nor is he in any way disgruntled and under-privileged. I find myself with that link, and THIS LINK enraged, filled with hate, and completely disgusted with what he says, what he does, and the extent to which we have, as a nation, created this beast through our own hand-wringing ambivalence, and short-sighted view of this "world order" we all seem so excited to be a part of. He has every intention of committing suicide if necessary to ensure the destruction of Israel. Let there be no mistake, his pursuit of nuclear materials and his acquisition of the means necessary to deliver them guarantee that this day is coming. That his ideology is not of the "peaceful Islam" variety, but rather of the martyrdom and Jihad variety, should be of vast, significant, and dramatic concern to everyone. That not very many people have the testicular fortitude to stand up and say he goes now, he goes today, and we will commit every possible resource to see to it, should be of even more concern.

Our missteps with Islamo-Facism have brought much to bear on us. While 3,000 American died on our soil, many more Americans and other Nationals have died fighting on their soil. Iran and her allies rely on us continuing to be uncertain and ambivalent; if only a little while longer so they can finish the weapons and delivery systems. It is not for us to debate whether it will be 16 days or 5 years; what is clear is his ntentions.

What is not clear is how many Israelis, Iraqis, Jordanians, Syrians, Lebanese, Egyptians, Turkish, Kuwaiti, or countless other nationalities will have to die before we finally GET it.

Just making sure no one has forgotten

2006-04-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

The penalty phase of the Moussaoui trial is finally coming to a close. Whatever the outcome, a would-be terrorist has had his day(s) in American court and has taken every opportunity to trash our country, her people, and our ways of life. He has become, for many, the only physical object for us to behold in the aftermath of that unimaginably terrible day (h/t to tacitus for several links and the inspiration for this post).

The final day for the prosecution included replays of the previously unreleased cockpit recordings. The Defense will try their best in the coming days to ensure their client avoids the needle, first by having the infamous "shoe-bomber" testify that Moussaoui was not as important in the 9/11 planning as he would have us believe, and they will also try to convince the jury that Moussaoui is just your standard, run-of-the-mill garden variety paranoid schizophrenic.

Ultimately, I suppose I am less concerned by whether he lives or dies than I am by what transpired in that plane and the others that day, and by where we are in America with Muslims, the War on Terror, and yes, the status on illegal immigration. Though we are told the 9/11 hijackers did NOT cross over from Canada, and this was reported in the 9/11 Commission's Final Report, I am skeptical at best about whether such a thing may happen in our future given what we know about our intelligence gathering flaws, our lack of political will to do the right things to protect our citizenry when push comes to shove, and to what degree we are willing to offend anyone in the Arab or Muslim world (read DPW).

We are at war. This war began many many years ago, but only in the days after the attacks on the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon, and the failed attempt on the White House did our countrymen formally take up arms and pursue our enemies where THEY live; where THEY terrorize and kill. Whether you are for or against the Iraq war, it IS now (in the greater context) part of the war on terror...and we fight it in part because of the attacks on 9/11. As we continue to debate the various elements of tactics and strategy and troop rotation, as we argue over the meanings and innuendos of Saddam's captured documents, or Iran's long-term intentions , don't forget why we are there, what is at stake, and the sacrifices and loss of innocent lives that got us here.

Never Forget still means something.

The Point: News From the Front

2006-04-07T21:15:00.000-07:00

vol. III, 1st Edition, 7 April 2006

While commercial media and disingenuous detractors nip at the edges of the courage and sacrifice of our Men and Women in Uniform, I bring you this report:

** haystack's needles: **

Interview with Gen. Kimmitt: March 8, 2006 with Hugh Hewitt

Turn off the TV, unplug the Ipod(tm)...listen to this!

Call to Action

"As a result of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, many people felt compelled to join the military. While every military member's service is valued, in recognition of the upcoming third anniversary of the terrorist attacks, we're featuring the stories of some of those who answered America's call to action this week."

Heroes in Action

The Medal of Honor: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force.

Distinguished Service Cross: For extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force

Distinguished Service Medal: For meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United States armed forces

Silver Star: For gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force

Legion of Merit: For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements

Distinguished Flying Cross: For any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in combat in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918

Soldier's Medal:For any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy

Bronze Star Medal:For any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after December 6, 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party

Meritorious Service Medal:For members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969

Air Medal:For any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight

Army Commendation Medal:For sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For actions where such performance was in direct contact with an enemy force, the Valor device is authorized as an attachment to the decoration

Army Achievement Medal:To recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel

Purple Heart:For those who have been wounded or killed while serving in, or with, the U.S. military after April 5, 1917

Special Focus: "America Supports YOU"

A nationwide program launched by the Department of Defense, recognizes citizens' support for our military men and women and communicates that support to members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad.

Soldier's Angels:

Charities of the Week: Easter is coming! PLEASE consider these 2 great ways to say thank you to the Troops:

Help our Soldiers Call Home

Send a Package to a Soldier

	Eight Strategic Pillars to Victory in Iraq:
	Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgency Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance Help Iraqis Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law and Promote Civil Rights Increase International Support for Iraq Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents
	The President Discusses Global War on Terror The President Discusses Democracy in Iraq with Freedom House The President discusses Freedom and Democracy in Iraq Strategy for Victory: Freedom in Iraq
	UPDATED: Whitehouse Releases "National Security Strategy" Champion Aspirations for Human Dignity Strengthen Alliances to Defeat Global Terrorism and Work to Prevent Attacks Against Us and Our Friends Work with Others to Defuse Regional Conflicts Prevent Our Enemies from Threatening Us, Our Allies, and Our Friends with Weapons of Mass Destruction Ignite a New Era of Global Economic Growth through Free Markets and Free Trade Expand the Circle of Development by Opening Societies and Building the Infrastructure of Democracy Develop Agendas for Cooperative Action with the Other Main Centers of Global Power Transform America’s National Security Institutions to Meet the Challenges and Opportunities of the 21st Century Engage the Opportunities and Confront the Challenges of Globalization

UPDATED: US State Department Iraq Weekly Status Report:

** Highlights through 5 April 2006: **

1. Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgents

2. Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance

3. Help Iraqis to Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government

4. Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services

5. Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy

6. Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law

7. Increase International Support for Iraq

8. Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents

Dept. Of State Section 1227 Report on Iraq: 6 April, 2006

** Highlights **

1. Current mission and and measures taken to support it

2. Iraqi progress towards a sustainable political settlement

3. Conditions necessary for a transfer of security responsibility

4. Iraqi security forces capacity and readiness which contribute to the transfer of security responsibility

5. Criteria used to evaluate progress in that area

6. Our plan for successfully completing the mission

Dept. of State Section 2207 Quarterly Report on Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funding and Expenditures [January 2006]

	US Embassy in Iraq: Latest Headlines
	Iraqi People Looking to Leaders To Form Government, Bush Says United States Condemns Bombing of Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf, Iraq Defense Department Seeks $5.2 Billion for Special Operations Forces New Human Rights and Democracy Report Highlights U.S. Efforts

	USAID: Assistance for Iraq
	Program Financial Summary through 31 March 2006 Restoring Iraq’s Agricultural Sector USAid Press Releases USAID Hosts Forum With Middle Eastern-American Leaders Indonesian Islamic Leaders to Gather in Washington To Discuss and Strengthen US-Indonesian Relations Senate Confirms Randall L. Tobias As Administrator for USAID

US Department of Defense

** NEW: Quadrennial Defense Review Report [from 2001 but a MUST read] **

"The attack on the United States and the war that has been visited upon us
highlights a fundamental condition of our circumstances: we cannot and
will not know precisely where and when America's interests will be
threatened, when America will come under attack, or when Americans
might die as the result of aggression. We can be clear about trends, but
uncertain about events. We can identify threats, but cannot know when
or where America or its friends will be attacked. We should try mightily to
avoid surprise, but we must also learn to expect it. We must constantly
strive to get better intelligence, but we must also remember that there will
always be gaps in our intelligence. Adapting to surprise - adapting quickly
and decisively - must therefore be a condition of planning.
The Quadrennial Defense Review was undertaken during a crucial time of
transition to a new era. Even before the attack of September 11, 2001, the
senior leaders of the Defense Department set out to establish a new
strategy for America's defense that would embrace uncertainty and
contend with surprise, a strategy premised on the idea that to be effective
abroad, America must be safe at home. It sought to set the conditions to
extend America's influence and preserve America's security. The strategy
that results is built around four key goals that will guide the development
of U.S. forces and capabilities, their deployment and use:

Assuring allies and friends of the United States' steadiness of
purpose and its capability to fulfill its security commitments

Dissuading adversaries from undertaking programs or
operations that could threaten U.S. interests or those of our
allies and friends

Deterring aggression and coercion by deploying forward the
capacity to swiftly defeat attacks and impose severe penalties for
aggression on an adversary's military capability and supporting
infrastructure

Decisively defeating any adversary if deterrence fails"

National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism

National Military Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction

UPDATED: US Department of Defense War on Terror - Current Headlines:

Bush Defends Iraq War for Short-Term Protection, Long-Term Peace

U.S., British Defense Chiefs: Now is Time to Stand Firm

Hiring Initiative Allows IED Survivors to Fight Back

Determined Manhunt Leads to Major Terrorist Catch

Integrated Cyber Network Will Save Lives, DoD Official Says

Commanders Share Ideas on Provincial Reconstruction Teams

Case of Accused Teen Terrorist Hits More Legal Roadblocks

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America is fighting a war against Terrorism. On September 11, 2001 we were forced to say so publicly. Before that day, this sleeping giant was content to swipe at individual acts as they happened. When 3,000 of our souls were taken from us, we emerged on the other side having survived, but finding ourselves as a Nation mortally wounded. When the fires were finally put out, and as many of the bodies identified and claimed as possible, we arose from the ashes to face our enemy with resolve and righteous indignation. The phrase "Never Forget" meant something then, and for those engaged in the fight, it still means something today. We are in a war, and we must win.

Today, the two most active theaters of this war are Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Civilian leadership and our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for US, and in our stead. We owe them loyalty, support, honor, and commitment. Not through Political machines; power-hungry self-important aspirants to the halls of Congress or the Whitehouse, but through our direct involvement with, and understanding of the evils they face and the accomplishments they continue to make with dignity, courage, and faithful execution of the mission.

Now, go out and seek the truth from those who fight for all of us each and every day

The Death of Patriotism

2006-04-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

In my recent spate of heavy travel I have been struck by the debate amongst average citizens around the world regarding America's immigration issue. I have heard people from several countries talk about their perceptions based on the media coverage they get in their hotel rooms, in airpoprt bars, and splashed over the pages of USA Today.

Having engaged in some of these discussions, I think that qualifies me as an expert, having conducted many opinion polls from a so-called cross section of "likely voters" (all sarcasm fully intended and implied). What I find amazing is the extent to which these non-Americans will go to villify illegal immigration through their own borders, and decry the effects of these immigrants on their lives and their economies, and interestingly enough they are most emphatic and vehement about the dilution of their culture. Yet, here at home we face charges of racism and bigotry at every turn should we dare make these same assertions about unwelcome illegal visitors to out own lands.

As we all know, the French and the Germans and, to a lesser degree, the Brits are all very proud of who they are and from whence they come, and their perception of what level of respect their country is owed from the rest of the world. Where has that gone in our own country? The purportedly most powerful nation on earth? The lone superpower? How have we come to the point of apologizing to ourselves and the rest of the world for being us?

Several stories in the news in recent days have given me pause about Patriotism and how it is being treated around the country. There's the one about about reactions from students to a Mexican flag being raised ABOVE an American flag at a high school in Arizona. The person responsible for raising that flag above the American flag felt it appropriate in response to a "remark directed at him" earlier.

We have a school in Houston intentionally raising the Mexican flag. We have late night pranks switching out American flags for Mexican flags, and most recently, a Mexican flag flown over an upside down American flag.

Today, we find a growing movement in public schools that are banning American flags all together .

I am afraid we have lost our collective minds in this the latest chapter of rewriting the Constitution to appease the vocal minority and silence the throngs of those who would stand up and fight FOR this country and all she stands for.

We have the Minutemen trying to draw attention to the holes in the border and they are villified as racists and bigots and vigilantes. We have students speaking out against Mexican flags being raised over their American flags, and are having the exercise of their first amendment rights taken away, and we have our elected officials ignoring our voices and insisting there is nothing we can do and we are incessantly reminded that we are a nation of immigrants.

So, where has all the patriotism gone? We can't wear our flags on our clothes, we can't burn flags if they are NOT American, we can't peaceably assemble at the border, and we have no redress of the Government.

This is the time to stand up and stand together, and at every turn, we are being collectively shut down. Should this trend continue, those who would have us forfeit our "most powerful country on Earth" status will ultimately prevail.

The Point: News From the Front

2006-03-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

vol. II, 1st Edition, 30 March 2006

America is fighting a war against Terrorism. On September 11, 2001 we were forced to say so publicly. Before that day, this sleeping giant was content to swipe at individual acts as they happened. When 3,000 of our souls were taken from us, we emerged on the other side having survived, but finding ourselves as a Nation mortally wounded. When the fires were finally put out, and as many of the bodies identified and claimed as possible, we arose from the ashes to face our enemy with resolve and righteous indignation. The phrase “Never Forget” meant something then, and for those engaged in the fight, it still means something today. We are in a war, and we must win.

Today, the two most active theaters of this war are Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Civilian leadership and our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for US, and in our stead. We owe them loyalty, support, honor, and commitment. Not through Political machines; power-hungry self-important aspirants to the halls of Congress or the Whitehouse, but through our direct involvement with, and understanding of the evils they face and the accomplishments they continue to make with dignity, courage, and faithful execution of the mission. While commercial media and disingenuous detractors nip at the edges of their courage and sacrifice, I bring you this report:

	Eight Strategic Pillars to Victory in Iraq:
	Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgency Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance Help Iraqis Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law and Promote Civil Rights Increase International Support for Iraq Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents
	NEW: The President Discusses Democracy in Iraq with Freedom House "America will leave Iraq, but we will not retreat from Iraq. We will leave because Iraqi forces have gained in strength, not because America's will has weakened. We will complete the mission in Iraq because the security of the American people is linked to the success in Iraq. We're pursuing a clear strategy for victory. Victory requires an integrated strategy: political, economic and security. These three elements depend on and reinforce one another. By working with Iraqi leaders to build the foundations of a strong democracy, we will ensure they have the popular support they need to defeat the terrorists. By going after the terrorists, coalition and Iraqi forces are creating the conditions that allow the Iraqi people to begin rebuilding their lives and their country. By helping Iraqis with economic reconstruction, we're giving every citizen a real stake in the success of a free Iraq. And as all this happens, the terrorists, those who offer nothing but death and destruction, are becoming isolated from the population. " NEW: Fact Sheet: Strategy for Victory: Freedom in Iraq The President discusses Freedom and Democracy in Iraq Whitehouse Releases "National Security Strategy"

	UPDATED: US State Department Iraq Weekly Status Report:
	Highlights through 29 March 2006: 1. Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgents Soldiers from the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 1st Iraqi Special Operations Forces Brigade, conducted a coordinated operation in northeast Baghdad March 26 to capture and detain insurgents responsible for kidnapping and execution activities. 2. Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance The Iraqi Army took another step forward in combating terrorism and insurgency March 22 when 139 elite soldiers graduated from the Iraqi Special Operations Forces Commando Course. . 3. Help Iraqis to Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government Speaking after a March 28 Cabinet meeting, President Bush called upon members of his Cabinet to reach out to their counterparts in Iraq to build relationships and help Iraqi officials strengthen their democracy, once a government is formed. 4. Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services All towers on the Bayji to Baghdad West Number Two 400kV line have been erected, and the Ministry of Electricity (ME) is in the process of completing the stringing of the towers. The interdicted towers along the Bayji to Baghdad West Number One 400kV line are expected to be completed by the end of the March. 5. Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy USAID's Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and two American equipment providers, has repaired 1,543 tractors in workshops across Iraq. 6. Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law Coalition forces now are focusing on upgrades to Iraq's security forces, calling 2006, “the year of the police,” says U.S. Army Lieutenant General Martin Dempsey, head of the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq. 7. Increase International Support for Iraq The Arab League Summit began March 28 in Khartoum to discuss issues involving Iraq's future. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said Iraq's neighbors should honestly cooperate with the Iraqi people to preserve the country's integrity and unity. 8. Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents On March 26, US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad inaugurated the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Baghdad.
	Dept. of State Quarterly Report on Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Funding and Expenditures Excerpts: During this October-December 2005 quarter, the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund(IRRF) supported a wide range of programs and activities in ten sectors. This report highlights three of particular importance: (1) programs to support Iraq’s constitutional referendum in October and the parliamentary elections in December; (2) support for institutional economic reforms, which supported the conclusion of an IMF Stand-By Arrangement on December 23; and (3) continued support in delivering essential services, including capacity building for Iraqis responsible for providing those services.

	USAID: Assistance for Iraq
	NEW FEATURE: USAid Press Releases
	USAID Official to visit Horn of Africa and Assess Humanitarian Crisis On World Tuberculosis Day, USAID Provides $1 Million to the "Stop TB Partnership" U.S., Mexico to Collaborate on Capture and Reuse of Methane Gas
	Program Financial Summary through 17 March 2006 Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update through 17 March 2006

	US Department of Defense
	National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism NEW: National Military Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction
	UPDATED: US Department of Defense War on Terror - Current Headlines: New Threats Demand New Approach to Deterrence, Defense DoD Committed to Stopping Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorist Cell Leader Captured; Soldiers Destroy Weapons Caches Iraq Veterans Proud to Serve, Eager to Deploy Again Afghan, Coalition Doctors Provide Care to Villagers Anti-Terror War Is Struggle of Ideas, Vice Chairman Says Bush: United States Will Leave, 'But Not Retreat' From Iraq

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	FULL STATEMENT OF GENERAL JOHN P. ABIZAID BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ON THE 2006 POSTURE OF THE UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 14 MARCH 2006
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	Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
	Multi-National Security Transition Command: Press Releases 20 March :: Twenty detained in Diyala operation 18 March :: Weapons cache destroyed near Habbaniyah 18 March :: Iraqi Soldiers find, destroy weapons cache

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Now, go out and seek the truth from those who fight for all of us each and every day

A Frame for a Bigger Picture

2006-03-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

While much debate surrounds the whole so-called "Illegal Immigration" issue, I can't help but take a huge step backwards, out from amongst the trees, for a better look at the forest here.

Many, here and around the blogosphere and inside the MSM, have beaten more dead horses than there are in the pasture...and have waxed far more eloquent than I ever could. I could jump into any of these exhortations and pick the side giving the best sales pitch of the moment, or I could try to re-frame these discussions into my own words; either approach only serves to further beat an already dead herd of horses.

For me the real story in this is the reality that our Government has failed us, our elected and appointed Political heros have failed us, our sytem of checks and balances and the notion of the rule of law has failed us, and ultimately we should be men and women enough to admit we have failed ourselves...over a very long period of years.

As your standard run-of-the-mill John Q. Citizen, let me encourage folks with a little time and energy to look at this from a different perspective, and consider the suckers we have ALL become to the sound bite and the feel-good rhetoric that has gotten us here.

You can all search Google yourselves, so no links are needed from me, but in review let's see if I have this right:

We gave illegals amnesty and promised tighter border controls. They got their amnesty, we got MORE POROUS borders with budget and staff and resource cuts at Customs and INS (pre-Homeland Security).

We tightened the rules for getting and retaining the various visas available for purchase (at the right price...but more than impoverished "sincere" emigrees could ever hope to be able to afford...isn't that why they are coming here in the first place?).

We bloated the bureaucracy so dramatically that we can't get out of our own way to communicate across agencies on matters of surveillance and intelligence about "bad guys" we seem to know are here but can't or won't go find and remove.

We wink at our local business leaders about their employment practices regarding documentation of legal status for their employees. We seem to ALL know who works for them, who hires them, and that some of them pick SOME of these workers up at the local Home Depot, but we can't be bothered to gather up the employees, deport them, and fine the offending employer (a law that has long been on the books). We even have "safe cities" where illegals can not be approached by Law Enforcement unless they commit a crime...they can not be approached solely for suspicion of being an illegal.

Those that we actually DO catch get rushed thru a review hearing, a plea(sometimes) is entered, and a follow up court appearance date is set before we cut them loose BACK on to our streets to never be heard from again.

We know there is a huge market for stolen identification and forged Social Security cards and counterfeit birth certificates, but we never seem to break up these crime rings... at least not that I ever hear much about in the news. We DO, however, chase down a 14 year old hacker that steals info off the web, and splash him all over the news.

It became abundantly clear after 9/11 that we had a serious problem with expired visas that we couldn't or wouldn't be bothered to allocate resources to finding and apprehending and removing from our country. Instead, we heard more rhetoric about fences and the National Guard...remember the birth of the Minutemen? All THEY got for their troubles was to be villified and marginalized and stereotyped as nazis or racists or vigilantes.

When we decided to start telling ourselves border security was a more serious problem than we realized and we met this realization in time for the 04 Presidential campaign, we were convinced we needed to vote "security". We did...by re-lecting all the Political heros that made this mess in the first place (or have done bupkus during their tenure to fix), in deference to votes from illegally obtained voter registrations, or the special interests and advocacy groups insisting they speak out in soft, soothing, reassuring tones about immigrants and how we are a NATION of immigrants, and how immigration is the soul of our country, lest they not get elected or re-elected.

While I would rather elect Homer Simpson to the White House than John Kerry, at least the Decorated Viet Nam War Hero (tm) TRIED to remind us that border security isn't just Mexico and Canada but every container and every ship and every vessel and every vehicle and every person in every Port and every Harbor on the Left and Right border...the Oceans.

We insisted in the most recent hair-on-fire-Dubai-Ports-World-debacle that we were going to make ABSOLUTELY sure security took precedence over sweetheart deals with a company and a Country we apparently have no compunction about being in-your-face discriminatory against solely on the basis of their race and their creed (which smacks in the face of our collective soft-spot for getting along in the world, embracing other religions and cultures, and engaging even-handedly with other countries); most especially Arab world countries we want to get along better with.

And, if that's not enough, consider the genius behind we, the people, actually voting in favor of things like driver's licenses for illegals, in-state tuition rates for illegals going to college, welfare for illegals, food stamps for illegals, WIC for illegals, Medicare for illegals, Medicaid for illegals, Social Security for illegals, and free medical care for illegals (redundant and repetitive here by design).

Now, I admit and am proud to be a good ole country boy living in the heartland, but I am sick of hearing all the feel good fluff about immigration generically, and pragmatism about immigration specifically. I am AWARE that we can not easily round up 12 million people and ship them out. I am aware that it will take a lot of money and a very long time to build fences and walls. I, too, recognize that we are, after all, supposed to be charitable and generous and sensitive to the needs of the downtrodden as the good Americans we all aspire to be. What frustrates me the most is that I ALSO am aware that we are generically lazy, often have the attention span of a Mayfly, and are typically inclined to defer to our Politicians...after all, isn't that why we HIRED them? And surely, the all-reliable media will hold them to account for our expectations and will tell us how they're doing; News at 6!.

But as the cynic I have become, I warn you now of what lies ahead.

We will keep them here, and we will create a new class of citizens for all our Political heros and special interests to pander to. We will watch them coddled and hand-fed, and cow-towed to. We will then drive the need for more services and more government and more Political heros (by newly created representation districts). We will half- heartedly build a chain link fence (knowing the tunnels underneath them are still in place...wink wink) under the auspices of enhanced security (I have 5 english mastiffs...they SCOFF at chain link fences...but I digress). We will hire more Customs and INS and Security technology companies and personnel...we will throw money at every leaking dribble in this "dam" we keep trying to shore up to minimize the flow of bodies into this country...and where will we be when that is done?

Look at the big picture. This is, as has been said elsewhere just lipstick on a pig. Unless they are ALL removed, and the doors locked and bolted, the bleeding of America at her borders will continue.

We will only serve to create even MORE bureaucracy, MORE Politicians, MORE of our money being re-allocated and re-distributed to our new "fellow citizens" of the newly created "Immigrant Class" and the programs we will need to design and fund to help and sustain them...and guess who gets to control that money? The panderers, and whiners, and hand-wringers that got us here in the first place...OUR Political Heros.

Gen. Abizaid Speaks!

2006-03-28T11:06:00.000-08:00

General John P. Abizaid, before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 14, 2006, issued a Posture Statement of the United States Central Command. Highlights from the Introductory statements are:

INTRODUCTION:
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) is in the middle of a fifth consecutive year of sustained warfare in its area of operations. The Command remains engaged in three principal activities: (1) defeating al Qaida and associated extremist networks throughout the region, (2) stabilizing Iraq and Afghanistan, and (3) partnering with governments and their militaries in the region to help them develop the capabilities and institutions to defeat terrorists and extremists on their own.

MISSION:
U.S. Central Command conducts operations to attack, disrupt and defeat terrorism, deter and defeat adversaries, deny access to WMD, assure regional access, strengthen regional stability, build the self-reliance of partner nations’ security forces, and protect the vital interests of the United States within the area of responsibility.

NATURE OF THE REGION:
The CENTCOM region spans 6.5 million square miles and 27 countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, the countries of the Horn of Africa, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and the Central Asian states as far north as Kazakhstan. It incorporates a nexus of vital transportation and trade routes, including the Red Sea, the Northern Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Gulf. It is home to the strategic maritime choke points of the Suez Canal, the Bab el Mandeb, and the Strait of Hormuz. It encompasses the world’s most energy-rich region – the Arabian Gulf alone accounts for 57% of the world’s crude oil reserves, 28% of the world’s oil production, and 41% of the world’s natural gas reserves.

GLOBAL COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE LONG WAR:
Defeating al Qaida and associated ideological movements will require significant counterterrorism cooperation among our allies and partners not only within the CENTCOM AOR, but throughout the globe. It will also require the dedication of military, intelligence, and many other components of national power. Our network of allies and agencies will eventually defeat the al Qaida network, but we have yet to master the integration of national and international power to achieve success against this ruthless, borderless enemy. We have long experience with nation state warfare. We must, in the years ahead, learn to organize ourselves to defeat a stateless enemy capable of delivering state-like destruction without having state-like vulnerabilities. Defeating such an enemy requires a careful study of its clearly articulated strategy and vision.

THE NATURE OF THE ENEMY:
Al Qaida and ideologically-linked groups such as Ansar al Islam, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al Ittihad al Islami, Jemaah Islamiyah, and Ansar al Sunna represent the main enemy to long-term peace and stability in the CENTCOM AOR, promoting and thriving on instability and violence. They challenge our partners in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. They attack our friends in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Madrid, and London. Although we have not experienced another attack on our homeland, the enemy that brought us 9/11 continues to represent a clear and unambiguous threat to our country.

This enemy seeks to topple local governments, establish a repressive and intolerant regional theocracy, and then extend its violence to the rest of the world. To effect such change, this enemy believes it must evict the United States and our Coalition allies from the region. Masking their true intentions with propaganda, rhetoric, and a sophisticated use of the mass media and the internet, this enemy exploits regional tensions and popular grievances. Al Qaida and its associated movements exhibit strategic patience and are willing to wait decades to achieve their goals.

PRINCIPLES OF GLOBAL COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE LONG WAR:
For the first time in our history, the principal enemy facing the United States is not another nation state – it is an ideologically-driven, borderless network. Such an enemy requires new thinking on how we organize and fight. Militarily, we will continue to kill and capture al Qaida leaders, shut down training camps, destroy operational cells, and prevent al Qaida and associated movements from exploiting ungoverned spaces. Certainly, such action requires precision targeting and highly sophisticated intelligence networks of our own. Nonmilitary measures to defeat al Qaida will be increasingly decisive in ultimately bringing about the network’s defeat. In order to counter its fanatical ideology and diminish its sources of strength, all elements of international and national power – diplomatic, political, economic, financial, the private sector – must be used to pressure the entire al Qaida and associated movement network over time.

STRATEGIC PRESENCE:
As we implement these principles, forces should be deployed in the region to focus on building partner military capacity, protecting the flow of strategic resources, deterring hostile states, and maintaining regional U.S. counterterrorist capacity. It is important to understand that the current large conventional force posture is largely a function of counterinsurgency work in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

His statement further describes the nature of the enemies we face, the work being done BY REGION to address them, the strategy for turn over of Security Control, and the forward thinking of known future conflicts...Iran being the most obvious.

While the MSM and our state-side Political Heroes would have you thinking differently, take the long time needed to get the perspective from the fighters, not the hand-wringing whiners and capitulaters...this is a MUST read.

Don't lose sight of Palestine in the GWOT

2006-03-20T05:44:00.000-08:00

You will have to subscribe to get the link, but for those not signed up with CentCOM I offer you this

On 4 March, 2006, Aljazeera broadcast a video recording of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri warning the HAMAS Movement against recognizing those he termed “secularists” and joining them in one legislative council. Al-Zawahiri said that assuming power must lead to applying the rules of Shari'ah (Islamic law).

This comes from a section of CentCom's reqgular newsletter, under the section called "What Extremists are Saying". This edition has some frightening commentary for those interested in the truth on the ground over the so-called truth from our Media here in the good ole US of A.

Here is the entirety of it:

“ In his State of the Union address, Bush, the advocate of democracy, has threatened HAMAS to halt aid unless it recognizes Israel, abandons Jihad, and abides by the agreements of capitulation between the [Palestinian] Authority [PA] and Israel. In this regard, it concerns me to alert my Muslim brothers in Palestine of several issues in order to realize the dimensions of the US conspiracy against them. The first issue is that the assumption of power is not required in itself, but it is required to consolidate God's law on earth. Should we give up the basis of religion; namely, the rule of Shari'ah, how would we apply the rule of God on Earth. Applying the rule of God is a pillar of monotheism. Following whims and not applying the rule of God is not part of God's religion or His rule. It would be a different religion and a different rule.

“The secularists in the National Authority have sold Palestine and accepted some morsels of it. So, recognizing those who made concessions and bestowing legitimacy on them conflicts with the approach of Islam. By the standards of Islam, these are criminals, and Palestine is not their possession or a real estate so as to relinquish it.

“Joining those who sold Palestine in one legislative council and considering their sale of Palestine, which conflicts with Islam, as a constructive religious judgment and accepting that the number of votes is the judge between us and them is a clear violation of the approach of Koran. That we recognize the legitimacy of their government and system means that we recognize the agreements they signed. It also means that, should these criminals receive a majority in any upcoming elections, then we will have to accept their right to sell Palestine. However, nobody, be he Palestinian or not, has the right to relinquish a grain of the Palestinian soil. This was an Islamic country, which the infidels occupied. It is the duty of every Muslim to seek to regain it. This is the dangerous meaning of accepting to join these secular councils on the basis of a secular constitution and on the basis of the Madrid and Oslo accords, the road map, and other agreements of surrender that violate, and even clash with the Shar'iah…”

Al-Zawahiri also urged the annulment of agreements with Israel.

“Fourth, several statements were made on the acceptance and observance of the agreements signed by the National Authority and Israel, meaning that those who made these statements approve of the Madrid and Oslo accords, the road map, and the other surrender agreements. This is a dangerous deal that must be annulled at once. One wonders why the rule of Shari'ah was conceded and why the surrender agreements were accepted. Was it for 80 seats in Gaza municipality?

“My Muslim brothers in Palestine, Iraq, and everywhere else, we must be wary of the new American game entitled the political process, for it is based on four deceptive principles: First, the abandonment of the law of Shar'iah; second, the recognition of the status quo and the surrender agreements that were imposed by the enemy via the collusion of those who sold our sanctities and dignity; third, the relinquishment of arms and the renunciation of jihad; and the fourth, the enemy's superiority and preservation of its arsenal of conventional and unconventional weapons, its military bases on our lands, and its forces that are occupying our countries, along with its continued assaults on us. The Crusader-Zionist enemy lures some of us into approving part of the game's rules with promises of power and freedom of movement, but then resorts to pressure and siege to force them to accept the remaining rules.

“Some might ask what harm there is in scoring political gains, even if temporary and limited. Well, the answer is that this warning is not concerned with a few gains, but with the high price paid for them. Are 80 seats in the Gaza municipality worth abandoning the faith of monotheism and abiding by the surrender agreements? Others might ask what the alternative is. Well, it is the path of the prophets and messengers, the path of da'wah [Islamic call] and jihad; da'wah for the pure faith and jihad in its name until the land is liberated and the Muslim caliphate emerges, God willing.”

.

While Iran is "believed" to be meddling in the Iraq conflict alongside Syria, Jordan, Yemen, and perhaps the balance of individuals from Saudia Arabia, Egypt, and so on, let us not fall prey to focusiing ONLY on Iraq here. HAMAS made lots of headlines after their victory, but not much more lately. We, inside the US continue to face the Pro-war vs. Anti-war debate, and pay most of our attention to whether the right name has declared the Civil War there that many have been anxiously trying to be first to declare.

Meanwhile, AQ is workinig all the fronts it perceives able to have a hand in, not the least of which is Palestine/Israel. There is much pressure for their influence to be felt and followed by HAMAS. Anyone out there a little uncomfortable with AQ dictating the peace (if it can be found) with Israel? I should think not.

There are even more disturbing messages in this newsletter, and I strongly suggest you consider signing up for it. While our media here tells us what they consider newsworthy, our Military is actually paying attention to everything not just the flashy. They are monitoriing al Jazeera, they are reading Jihad blogs, and they are taking names(over there in the war zone they don't worry themselves with whether spying on the enemy is legal). The very last entry in this week's edition gives this author chills, redoubles my belief in the rightness of waging this war on terror, and should serve to remind everyone that reads this what the nature of our enemy really is.

“My sixth message is to the Islamic nation everywhere to hold firm to the commands of God, to confront the Crusaders' campaigns, whose defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan are sending signals. Let all know that the welfare of this faith is more important than the life of this or that person and that all individuals are mortal and the religion of God is and will remain protected and honored with the help and might of God. I am calling on everyone to rise up to support their brothers in Palestine, Afghanistan, and Iraq with their souls, money, prayers, experience, and knowledge. This is the time. Rise up.

“Praise be to God, Lord of all creation."

There is no respect for human life in this beast, and this beast must be destroyed.

Now is the time for resolve, not retreat

2006-03-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

The DOD Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld issued an EDITORIAL in the Washington Post today. A thorough read will tell you, among other things:

Some have described the situation in Iraq as a tightening noose, noting that "time is not on our side"and that "morale is down." Others have described a "very dangerous" turn of events and are "extremely concerned."

Who are they that have expressed these concerns? In fact, these are the exact words of terrorists discussing Iraq -- Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his associates -- who are describing their own situation and must be watching with fear the progress that Iraq has made over the past three years.

The Secretary discusses his observations and opinions regarding the situation in Iraq, and shares with us the notion that

"The terrorists seem to recognize that they are losing in Iraq."

He goes on to say that history will bear out the truth of this, and posits that

Fortunately, history is not made up of daily headlines, blogs on Web sites or the latest sensational attack. History is a bigger picture, and it takes some time and perspective to measure accurately.

There has been much exchange here of late regarding Iraq; whether there is a civil war(undeclared or otherwise) and whether we have accomplished anything of value or meaning. The Secretary suggests that while some are wringing their hands, or have declared a civil war in the Iraqi's stead, perhaps we should think about a little truth and reality:

The terrorists are determined to stoke sectarian tension and are attempting to spark a civil war. But despite the many acts of violence and provocation, the vast majority of Iraqis have shown that they want their country to remain whole and free of ethnic conflict. We saw this last month after the attack on the Shiite shrine in Samarra, when leaders of Iraq's various political parties and religious groups condemned the violence and called for calm.

Now, while some among us are convinced this was an unjust war, or was made so because we subsequently disproved our own intelligence regarding WMD (the essential indication that invasion was the only means to address our fundamental concern) the Secretary has an interesting perspective on where we are today:

The rationale for a free and democratic Iraq is as compelling today as it was three years ago. A free and stable Iraq will not attack its neighbors, will not conspire with terrorists, will not pay rewards to the families of suicide bombers and will not seek to kill Americans.

I have no problem staying the course under these auspices regardless of whether they match those under which we found ourselves crossing the Kuwaiti border 3 years ago.

The Secretary gets the last word in this post. Please pay attention to what he says here:

Though there are those who will never be convinced that the cause in Iraq is worth the costs, anyone looking realistically at the world today -- at the terrorist threat we face -- can come to only one conclusion: Now is the time for resolve, not retreat.

Consider that if we retreat now, there is every reason to believe Saddamists and terrorists will fill the vacuum -- and the free world might not have the will to face them again. Turning our backs on postwar Iraq today would be the modern equivalent of handing postwar Germany back to the Nazis. It would be as great a disgrace as if we had asked the liberated nations of Eastern Europe to return to Soviet domination because it was too hard or too tough or we didn't have the patience to work with them as they built free countries.

What we need to understand is that the vast majority of the Iraqi people want the coalition to succeed. They want better futures for themselves and their families. They do not want the extremists to win. And they are risking their lives every day to secure their country.

That is well worth remembering on this anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Point: News From the Front, 2nd edition

2006-03-17T04:14:00.000-08:00

vol. I, 2nd Edition, 15 March 2006

America is fighting a war against Terrorism. On September 11, 2001 we were forced to say so publicly. Before that day, this sleeping giant was content to swipe at individual acts as they happened. When 3,000 of our souls were taken from us, we emerged on the other side having survived, but finding ourselves as a Nation mortally wounded. When the fires were finally put out, and as many of the bodies identified and claimed as possible, we arose from the ashes to face our enemy with resolve and righteous indignation. The phrase “Never Forget” meant something then, and for those engaged in the fight, it still means something today. We are in a war, and we must win.

Today, the two most active theaters of this war are Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Civilian leadership and our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for US, and in our stead. We owe them loyalty, support, honor, and commitment. Not through Political machines; power-hungry self-important aspirants to the halls of Congress or the Whitehouse, but through our direct involvement with, and understanding of the evils they face and the accomplishments they continue to make with dignity, courage, and faithful execution of the mission. While commercial media and disingenuous detractors nip at the edges of their courage and sacrifice, I bring you this report:

Eight Strategic Pillars to Victory in Iraq:

Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgency
Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance
Help Iraqis Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government
Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services
Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy
Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law and Promote Civil Rights
Increase International Support for Iraq
Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents

The President discusses Freedom and Democracy in Iraq

1- The Iraqi People Have Chosen A Future Of Freedom And Peace
2- Iraqi Security Forces Are Taking The Lead In Defending Their Democracy
3- Coalition Forces Are Combating The Threat Of IEDs

NEW: Whitehouse Releases "National Security Strategy"

* Champion aspirations for human dignity;
* Strengthen alliances to defeat global terrorism and work to prevent attacks against us and our friends;
* Work with others to defuse regional conflicts;
* Prevent our enemies from threatening us, our allies, and our friends with weapons of mass destruction (WMD);
* Ignite a new era of global economic growth through free markets and free trade;
* Expand the circle of development by opening societies and building the infrastructure of democracy;
* Develop agendas for cooperative action with other main centers of global power;
* Transform America’s national security institutions to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century; and
* Engage the opportunities and confront the challenges of globalization.

UPDATED: US State Department Iraq Weekly Status Report:

** Highlights:**

1. Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgents
Soldiers from the 6th and 9th Iraqi Army Divisions, supported by Coalition
Soldiers conducted one of the largest operations of the past six months and
took control of a terrorist stronghold south of Baghdad.

2. Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance
The final session of an Iraqi National Police Leadership seminar concluded on
March 9, wrapping up a 10-session series that began on November 25, 2005.
Each of the 10 sessions for senior leaders was facilitated by Coalition police
trainers.

3. Help Iraqis to Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government
Iraqi leaders began intensive meetings on March 14 to form a national unity
government ahead of the Council of Representatives’ first session on
Thursday. The parliament session set for March 16 is expected to remain
technically open for days, without adjourning, to give time for to blocs meet a
constitutional requirement to elect a speaker in the first session, officials said.

4. Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services
Testing of the V94 turbine generator has proven successful at the Kirkuk power
plant. With an output of 260 MW, the enormous generator provided 48 percent
of Baghdad’s total electrical output on March 8, according USAID officials.

5. Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy
At the request of the Central Bank of Iraq Governor Sinan al-Shabibi, the Paris
Club Secretariat will send letters to seven of Iraq’s non-Paris Club official
creditors who have not yet agreed to debt relief for Iraq urging them to conclude
bilateral agreements.

6. Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law
The Combined Review and Release Board (CCRB) reviewed cases of 122 male
detainees and recommended release, from Theater Internment Facilities on
March 8.

7. Increase International Support for Iraq
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the
UN Assistance Mission for Iraq organized a workshop on building a national
commission to address abuses in Iraq.

8. Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public
Isolation of the Insurgents
President Bush delivered the first in a series of speeches on March 13, updating
the American people on the National Strategy For Victory In Iraq. The President's
National Strategy for Victory in Iraq has three tracks: political, economic, and
security. The speech focused on the security track.

Dept. of State Quarterly Report on Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Funding and Expenditures

Excerpts:

During this October-December 2005 quarter, the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund(IRRF) supported a wide range of programs and activities in ten sectors. This report highlights three of particular importance:

(1) programs to support Iraq’s constitutional referendum in October and the parliamentary elections in December;
(2) support for institutional economic reforms, which supported the conclusion of an IMF Stand-By Arrangement on December 23; and
(3) continued support in delivering essential services, including capacity building for Iraqis responsible for providing those services.

USAID: Assistance for Iraq
NEW FEATURE: ** Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update **
USAID Celebrates Women in Iraq
Program Financial Summary through 3 March 2006

US Department of Defense
National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism
UPDATED US Department of Defense War on Terror - Current Headlines:

Rice Says Victory Requires Time, Patience, Sacrifice

Progress Continues As Iraqi Freedom Nears Three-Year Mark

Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition Launch 'Operation Swarmer'

Abizaid Stresses Security, Government in Iraq

Official Praises Iraqi Forces' Work Following Mosque Blast

Violence in Afghanistan Ebbs, Flows Over Time

UPDATED US Central Command
SPECIAL FEATURE:

** STATEMENT OF GENERAL JOHN P. ABIZAID BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ON THE 2006 POSTURE OF THE UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 14 MARCH 2006 **
Excerpts:

INTRODUCTION:
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) is in the middle of a fifth consecutive year of sustained warfare in its area of operations. The Command remains engaged in three principal activities: (1) defeating al Qaida and associated extremist networks throughout the region, (2) stabilizing Iraq and Afghanistan, and (3) partnering with governments and their militaries in the region to help them develop the capabilities and institutions to defeat terrorists and extremists on their own.

MISSION:
U.S. Central Command conducts operations to attack, disrupt and defeat terrorism, deter and defeat adversaries, deny access to WMD, assure regional access, strengthen regional stability, build the self-reliance of partner nations’ security forces, and protect the vital interests of the United States within the area of responsibility.

NATURE OF THE REGION:
The CENTCOM region spans 6.5 million square miles and 27 countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, the countries of the Horn of Africa, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and the Central Asian states as far north as Kazakhstan. It incorporates a nexus of vital transportation and trade routes, including the Red Sea, the Northern Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Gulf. It is home to the strategic maritime choke points of the Suez Canal, the Bab el Mandeb, and the Strait of Hormuz. It encompasses the world’s most energy-rich region – the Arabian Gulf alone accounts for 57% of the world’s crude oil reserves, 28% of the world’s oil production, and 41% of the world’s natural gas reserves.

GLOBAL COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE LONG WAR:
Defeating al Qaida and associated ideological movements will require significant counterterrorism cooperation among our allies and partners not only within the CENTCOM AOR, but throughout the globe. It will also require the dedication of military, intelligence, and many other components of national power. Our network of allies and agencies will eventually defeat the al Qaida network, but we have yet to master the integration of national and international power to achieve success against this ruthless, borderless enemy. We have long experience with nation state warfare. We must, in the years ahead, learn to organize ourselves to defeat a stateless enemy capable of delivering state-like destruction without having state-like vulnerabilities. Defeating such an enemy requires a careful study of its clearly articulated strategy and vision.

THE NATURE OF THE ENEMY:
Al Qaida and ideologically-linked groups such as Ansar al Islam, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al Ittihad al Islami, Jemaah Islamiyah, and Ansar al Sunna represent the main enemy to long-term peace and stability in the CENTCOM AOR, promoting and thriving on instability and violence. They challenge our partners in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. They attack our friends in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Madrid, and London. Although we have not experienced another attack on our homeland, the enemy that brought us 9/11 continues to represent a clear and unambiguous threat to our country.

This enemy seeks to topple local governments, establish a repressive and intolerant regional theocracy, and then extend its violence to the rest of the world. To effect such change, this enemy believes it must evict the United States and our Coalition allies from the region. Masking their true intentions with propaganda, rhetoric, and a sophisticated use of the mass media and the internet, this enemy exploits regional tensions and popular grievances. Al Qaida and its associated movements exhibit strategic patience and are willing to wait decades to achieve their goals.

PRINCIPLES OF GLOBAL COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE LONG WAR:
For the first time in our history, the principal enemy facing the United States is not another nation state – it is an ideologically-driven, borderless network. Such an enemy requires new thinking on how we organize and fight. Militarily, we will continue to kill and capture al Qaida leaders, shut down training camps, destroy operational cells, and prevent al Qaida and associated movements from exploiting ungoverned spaces. Certainly, such action requires precision targeting and highly sophisticated intelligence networks of our own. Nonmilitary measures to defeat al Qaida will be increasingly decisive in ultimately bringing about the network’s defeat. In order to counter its fanatical ideology and diminish its sources of strength, all elements of international and national power – diplomatic, political, economic, financial, the private sector – must be used to pressure the entire al Qaida and associated movement network over time.

STRATEGIC PRESENCE:
As we implement these principles, forces should be deployed in the region to focus on building partner military capacity, protecting the flow of strategic resources, deterring hostile states, and maintaining regional U.S. counterterrorist capacity. It is important to understand that the current large conventional force posture is largely a function of counterinsurgency work in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the next issue... the rest of General Abizaid's statement, focusing on these key areas:

Iraq

Situation Overview

- Coalition Forces

- The Enemy

Strategic Focus

Transitions and Timing

Afghanistan

Situation Overview

- Coalition Forces

- The Enemy

Strategic Focus

Much Accomplished, Much More to Do

Horn of Africa and Yemen

Situation Overview

Strategic and Country Focus

Way Ahead: Internationalizing and Civilianizing

Theater Security Cooperation and Other Regional Partnerships

Pakistan

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Arabian Gulf States

Egypt

Jordan

Lebanon

Central Asian States

Iran and Syria

Critical Mission Enablers

A Strong Coalition

Interagency Coordination

Intelligence

Logistics

Strategic Sealift and Intra-Theater and Inter-Theater Airlift

Communications

Personnel

Flexible Spending Authority

Strategic Communications

Strategic Issues

Counter-IED and Force Protection

Contesting the Virtual World

Detainees

Joint Warfighting

Conclusion

Current Headlines

COALITION FORCES COLLECT, DISARM MUNITIONS IN NANGARHAR

MNC-I DIRECTS HADITHA INVESTIGATION

ISF DISCOVER BOMB BY SCHOOL

DETAINEE DIES AT ABU GHRAIB

Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq

6th Iraqi Army Division closes in on complete responsibility
Iraqi Police overcome challenges in Baghdad
Iraqi soldiers groom new trainers

Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

Military Branch and Unit Publications

Featured Editions This Week:

Iron Brigade Chronicles

The Heart Beat

Now, go out and seek the truth from those who fight for all of us each and every day

The Point: News From the Front

2006-03-15T07:51:00.000-08:00

vol. I, 1st edition, 15 March 2006

America is fighting a war against Terrorism. On September 11, 2001 we were forced to say so publicly. Before that day, this sleeping giant was content to swipe at individual acts as they happened. When 3,000 of our souls were taken from us, we emerged on the other side having survived, but finding ourselves as a Nation mortally wounded. When the fires were finally put out, and as many of the bodies identified and claimed as possible, we arose from the ashes to face our enemy with resolve and righteous indignation. The phrase “Never Forget” meant something then, and for those engaged in the fight, it still means something today. We are in a war, and we must win.

Today, the two most active theaters of this war are Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Civilian leadership and our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for US, and in our stead. We owe them loyalty, support, honor, and commitment. Not through Political machines; power-hungry self-important aspirants to the halls of Congress or the Whitehouse, but through our direct involvement with, and understanding of the evils they face and the accomplishments they continue to make with dignity, courage, and faithful execution of the mission. While commercial media and disingenuous detractors nip at the edges of their courage and sacrifice, I bring you this report:

Eight Strategic Pillars to Victory in Iraq:

Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgency
Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance
Help Iraqis Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government
Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services
Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy
Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law and Promote Civil Rights
Increase International Support for Iraq
Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents

The President discusses Freedom and Democracy in Iraq

The President delivered an update on March 13, 2006, on progress in training Iraqi Security Forces and explained Coalition efforts to combat improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The President's Strategy for Victory in Iraq has three tracks: political, economic, and security. This speech focused on the security track. Excerpt:

1- The Iraqi People Have Chosen A Future Of Freedom And Peace
2- Iraqi Security Forces Are Taking The Lead In Defending Their Democracy
3- Coalition Forces Are Combating The Threat Of IEDs

US State Department Iraq Weekly Status Report:

Highlights (through 8 March 2006-a 2nd edition will come out with the 15 March status update)

1. Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgents:

Coalition and Iraqi forces’ operations in Iraq northeast of Fallujah and in Anbar
province recently resulted in the detention of 62 suspects.

2. Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance:

The 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division assumed battle space responsibility of
an area covering western Baghdad and eastern Abu Ghraib from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, on March 2.

3. Help Iraqis to Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government:

On March 5, Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani, said he planned to convene the
new Council of Representatives for the first time on March 12.

4. Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services:

More than 250,000 residents and 250 businesses in Baghdad, Maysan, and Najaf Provinces have access to potable water after the installation of almost 10
kilometer of water line, repair of a compact water unit, installation of two water compact units, construction of an elevated storage tank, rehabilitation of two pumps, installation of an additional pump, and repair of a water main by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

5. Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy:

On March 6 South Korea and Sweden both signed bilateral agreements with Iraq to forgive 80 percent of Iraq’s debt.

6. Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law:

Saddam Hussein said he alone should be tried for Iraqi government actions in
Dujail in 1982. He acknowledged that he signed orders for the destruction of
orchards and farmland after an failed assassination attempt against him failed.

7. Increase International Support for Iraq:

On March 4, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa announced that the Arab League will open offices in Iraq for the first time since the 2003, part of its efforts to help reconcile the country's Sunni Arab, Shiite and Kurdish communities.

8. Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents:

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times on March 7, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said that “For now, Iraq has pulled back from [civil war] after the wave of sectarian reprisals that followed the February 22 bombing of a Shiite Muslim shrine in Samarra. If another incident [occurs], Iraq is really vulnerable to it at this time, in my judgment.”

Dept. of State Quarterly Report on Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Funding and Expenditures

Excerpts:
During this October-December 2005 quarter, the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund(IRRF) supported a wide range of programs and activities in ten sectors. This report highlights three of particular importance:

(1) programs to support Iraq’s constitutional referendum in October and the parliamentary elections in December;
(2) support for institutional economic reforms, which supported the conclusion of an IMF Stand-By Arrangement on December 23; and
(3) continued support in delivering essential services, including capacity building for Iraqis responsible for providing those services.

USAID: Assistance for Iraq

USAID Celebrates Women in Iraq

Program Financial Summary through 3 March 2006

US Department of Defense

National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism

US Department of Defense War on Terror Main Page
Current headlines:

New Iraqi Parliament's First Meeting Slated for March 16

War on Terrorism Requires More Than Might, DoD Official Says

Funding, Public Opinion Pose Challenges in War on Terrorism

Iraqis at Crossroads But Seem to Be Choosing Unity, Pace Says

US Central Command

Current Headlines:

AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES FOCUS ON POPPY ERADICATION

BASTOGNE SOLDIERS CATCH TERRORISTS RED-HANDED

CACHE DISCOVERED NEAR TIKRIT

IRAQI POLICE RAIDS LEAD TO CACHE DISCOVERIES

Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

Military Branch and Unit Publications
Featured Editions This Week

Iron Brigade Chronicles

The Heart Beat

Now, go out and seek the truth from those who fight for all of us each and every day

What we AREN'T Being Told

2006-03-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

I fell into a website this morning associated with Reuters that calls istelf AlertNet: Alerting humanitarians to emergencies and it made me sick. While I would rather NOT encourage more site hits for this Organization, it is worthwhile to offer your considerations to what can be found there:

U.S. and Iraqi forces have been battling a Sunni Arab insurgency against the Shi'ite- and Kurdish-led government since U.S. troops toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

A wave of sectarian violence since the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine on Feb. 22 has killed hundreds.

Asterisk denotes a new or updated item.

*BAGHDAD - A child was killed and three people wounded when a mortar round landed on a house in the Shula district of Baghdad, police said.

*BAGHDAD - Two civilians were killed and four wounded when a car bomb targeting a U.S. military convoy exploded in southern Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - A U.S. soldier died of wounds from a roadside bomb in eastern Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

ISKANDARIYA - A civilian was killed and three wounded when a roadside bomb targeting a police patrol went off in Iskandariya, south of Baghdad, police said.

TIKRIT - Five bodyguards were wounded when a car bomb exploded near the convoy of the governor of Salahaddin province in Tikrit, 170 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

TIKRIT - Five people were killed and 18 wounded when a bomb targeting a police patrol exploded in Tikrit, police said.

KIRKUK - Two policemen were killed and four wounded when two car bombs exploded in separate attacks on a police patrol in the northern oil city of Kirkuk, 250 km (150 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Four policemen and six civilians were wounded when a roadside bomb hit a police patrol in central Baghdad, police said.

FALLUJA - A U.S. Marine was killed on Sunday by "enemy action" in Anbar Province, the U.S. military said.

TAJI - One person was killed and six wounded when a roadside bomb went off in Taji, some 20 km north of Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - The bodies of four people were found in Sadr City, in eastern Baghdad, police said. They had been shot and there were signs of torture.

We find 11 story lines listed here under the title "FACTBOX-Developments in Iraq, March 13", yet after further investigation only 2 of them are current (follow the asterisk trail). Each of these 11 stories are "bad" news. Yet, if you look around a little, there is a great deal of GOOD news to be found about Iraq and what goes on there. In fact, just a pop over to CentCom.mil and you get 3 FRESH stories dateline March 13, 2006 that give cause for a feeling that perhaps things really MAY be going well, or better at least, than what our unbiased media friends would have us believe.

INSURGENTS FOUND GUILTY OF POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS AND ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSING

COALITION FORCES RESPOND TO ATTACK IN KUNAR, DETAIN INSURGENTS

2ND.,6TH IA DIV. PROVIDES IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FOLLOWING SADR CITY TERRORIST ATTACKS

This last story especially troubles me since all the headlines I can find and follow today about the attack in Sadr city are ALL in regard to the meme of a civil war's inevitability, yet our Cent Com people, you know...the ones there ON THE GROUND, are telling us we have responded, are rounding up the bad guys, and things are approaching relative calm. Why the disparity in the news from US soil versus on-the-ground-in-Iraq?

A look at today's headlines at DVIDSHUB.NET shares with us 6 headlines:

MiTTs Take Jundi Training to Next Level

4ID Band Takes Mardi Gras on Road for Soldier Morale

MND-B Soldiers Find Multiple Weapons Caches

Iraqi EOD Team Helps Make Road Safer

Gateway Reopens for Iraqi Citizens

MiTTs Take Training to Next Level

So I asked myself "haystack, are the centcom and dvidshub websites working in collusion to spread propaganda and it is only US media outlets who can be trusted to bring the truth?"

I came to the conclusion that a thing in life is pursued or cast aside solely based on the belief it can be attained or achieved. As long as our people inside the US get the first 11 stories, we will continue to draw further back from the sacrifice, commitment, and drive toward that end, which is Victory. If we started seeing HALF the energy spent by the US media on the good and the accomplished and the acts that inspire pride and dignity in Iraq, we would see a much faster pace of the needed investment from our Politicians and our Citizens, and a much earlier Victorious completion of the mission...and a much lower unnecessary loss of life.

Blackmail the Vulnerable

2006-03-09T07:06:00.000-08:00

Qualifier: My hair is on fire today over several news stories. Assume what follows to be driven by angst and cynicism and a total lack of respect for all of our Political Heroes...both sides of the deep divide AND the Man at the top himself for letting it come to this.

Today we find in THIS Article in the LA Times that

the House Appropriations Committee approved a measure that Bush had promised to veto — and attached it to a bill the president dearly wanted.

[...]The committee, long a bastion of support for the Bush administration, passed the prohibition, 62 to 2, as part of a bill that included $68 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $19 billion for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. If the full House and the Senate go along, the strategy could force Bush to choose between the ports deal and another year of war funding.

Isn't that uplifting? Our 62 Congressmen voting in favor of THIS AMENDMENT have no qualms whatsoever about blackmailing the President over the politically charged Dubai Ports deal even if it means daring him to take badly needed funds and resources from, not only our brave men and women in harm's way, but the displaced and humiliated victims of Katrina. Are you kidding me?

It is no coincidence that the election is in sight. It is increasingly being seen that as Bush slides deeper into lame duck status, the Repubs are starting to jump ship like rats anytime they think it is conducive to ther reelection chances. It's quite plain the Dems continue to seek the soft spot on the President where they can drive in that final, fatal voodoo needle.

Every other line they have drawn in the sand has been blurred and erased with the next shifting political wind, so perhaps they can capitalize this time with the Benedict Arnolds on the right that are willing to bury the President and the party for personal political glory.

This is truly a dark moment for politics; for me at least.

If our Political Heroes were so sure the American people-their constituents-were against this Dubai debacle, why do they need to resort to blackmail?. Why are they afraid this President, who has never lifted the veto pen, would veto or survive a veto override over the port deal when SO MANY PEOPLE are supposedly against it?

We face today the not-so-bold "stand" by the House Appropriations Committee which suggests the only way our Soldiers and Hurricane victims will continue to get their support is if the President gives up on the DPW deal. That is blackmail. It is cowardice, it shows they do NOT in fact have the strength of their convictions regarding Muslim Arabs working American ports, they do not in fact trust their fellow Political Heroes to stand up for what they SAY is the will of the American people, and it says some very sad things about where we have travelled in the political sandbox.

If Congress succeeds in blocking Dubai, our soldiers and our fellow citizens suffering through the hurricane aftermath will get their sorely needed resources. The President will be slapped down and humiliated by the press and anyone needing to make him look bad so they can look good and get elected or re-elected. Everyone gunning for Bush or willing to sell him out for their own gain will give each other the collective high 5. The DPW group will go somewhere else...whether they become unhappy with us as a nation aside, we will have given no NEW reasons for the Arab world to trust us or want to do business with us, and to many this is not a bad thing.

What this will all do for many of us out here in the real world of every day fending for ourselves and fighting to survive is further show that our Political Heroes are not in it for anything but themselves. They are not fighting for the soldiers. They are not fighting for fellow citizens while they suffer miserable circumstances. They will sell us out any time the chance arises to improve their own condition; everyone else's be damned.

I am 1 of millions to blame

2006-03-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

for THIS PERSON having the soapbox to utter such shameful, disgraceful, and irresponsible things about the war effort in Iraq.

I voted for Jimmy Carter in 1976. Perhaps if I had known at the time that he would so deeply dishonor our men and women in uniform 30 years forward, I may have made a different choice. Sadly I didn't and now having enabled him to attain a position of authority and stature he rattles of things like this:

It was a completely unnecessary war. It was an unjust war," said Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner. "It was initiated on the basis of false pretenses. All of those are true, but we can't just pre-emptively withdraw

I am sorry I voted for him. I am sorry he went on to facilitate years of inspired Palestinian-bred terrorism, and I am sorry he now dishonors the office of President and the name and dignity of the American Soldier.

From a Friend and a Soldier: Letter Writing Campaign

2006-03-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

chcknhawk from A Soldiers Perspective has asked for help from as many people as possible in expanding a letter writing campaign to show our respect and gratitude and support for the family of a fallen soldier in Iraq. Below, in it's entirety, is his message...I need add no words of my own...

Army SGT Rickey Jones, 21, of Kokomo, Ind; killed Feb. 22 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during patrol operations in Hawijah, Iraq

I am trying to help organize a letter writing campaign to the family of SGT Rickey Jones. As you may have read earlier, their home was vandalized by idiots who wouldn't understand patriotism if it flew a plane through their bedroom window.

If you own a blog, please post this effort on your respective blogs and ask your readers to post it on their blogs. If you are as disgusted as I am and would like to write a letter to have delivered to this family, please email Lauren (MyWay716@aol.com) for more information. The good people over at Operation Military Pride are helping facilitate the delivery of these letters.

This family recently lost a son and shouldn't have to deal with people like Fred Phelps and the people responsible for the egging of their home and irreverent phone calls. If you feel the same way I do, please email her and write this family a letter of support and love. Let them know that we appreciate their son's service and mourn their loss. Let's show them what America is really made of. This isn't about whether or not you support the war. This is about common decency for a family that has suffered the ultimate sacrifice...having to bury a child. Thank you in advance. When this is over, I want the post office to have to hire new postmen just to handle the volume. Yes, it's a challenge, as LinkedinUSAF would say.

Helping In The Campaign:
Hilary-Dilary Dock
Media Lies
Fix4RSO
Linked In USAF
Terri's Thoughts
Proud Army Mom
Poohette's Place
Paulette
Hammering Sparks From The Anvil
Political Bloviation
My Daily Rant
Soldier's Angels New York
Yikes!!
Something...And Half Of Something
Machelle's Blog
Gribbit's Word
Big Dog's Weblog
Cao's Blog
Right Truth
Is It Just Me
A Rose By Any Other Name
Republican Witch
Landry's Life
Blue Star Chronicles
Iraq War Today
The Bos'un Locker
A Lady's Ruminations
The Irate Nation
Small Town Veteran
Dead Blogger's Society
The Conservative Insurgent
American Daughter
The Uncooperative Blogger
Christian Pundits
KateSpot
Liberty Bell
The C-Square
My Life
Da Goddess
Christine Murphy Dot Net

Tim Saler: An interview with a Friend of hickpolitics

2006-03-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

As many of my readers know, I have been working of late on a project very near and dear to my heart called NoEndButVictory whose mission is to stand behind the troops in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the greater war on terror, and to rally our membership into action here at home to keep our legislators focused on the needs of the Soldiers and Iraqi citizens.

Having been recruited there by a well known figure in the blogosphere, I found myself immediately and deeply engaged in the work of co-developing a website from scratch including software development, graphic design, membership recruiting, and site marketing, advertising, and sales; the whole gamut. These tasks hard, time consuming, and best of all, caused me to meet several fascinating individuals along the way. One such person is a man named Tim Saler.

Now that the site is up and running and the pressure subsided somewhat, I asked him if we could spend a little time together getting to know him a little better and exploring his thoughts and opinions on the political climate as we fall full-throttle into the '06 election cycle. What follows is an interview I did with Tim the other day:

haystack: So tell me, just exactly who IS Tim Saler?

Tim Saler: I would like to think of myself as just another citizen with an opinion who happens to have a medium through the Internet from which I can disseminate my thoughts. But, you know, we don't really get to define ourselves quite as much as we might like, and I think I'm more well-known for being an elections analyst or commentator of some sort. But really, I just prefer to think of myself as a concerned citizen with a real passion for public life.

haystack: Where did you come from?

TS: I was born in southern New Jersey. My family moved to North Carolina not long afterwards, but we didn't stay there very long. On back up to New Jersey for several years, then to Indiana, back to New Jersey, and now I live in Philadelphia--though I believe I am technically a resident of South Carolina according to the government. So, I'm all over the place. Where I came from in a figurative sense, however, has a lot to do with the way I was raised as well as the surroundings.

haystack: What was life like for Tim day to day in the so-called "early years"?

TS: I don't know to tell you the truth. I just have to go by stories that I've heard told by family and that sort of thing, since I have very little memory of being quite young. My understanding is that I was really into science--chemistry and that sort of thing--and was quite bright. I was really into sports though, all aspects of the ones that I followed anyway, and I think more than anything with science or math (which I can't really do very well anymore, go figure), that really stuck with me. Nothing about politics though.

Computers were really big. That's for sure. Before I ever even thought about anything having to do with politics, I thought I was going to be a computer programmer. That was my first passion, I guess you could say.

haystack: What led you to your interest in Politics; was politics a big player in dinner-table conversation or backyard barbecues?

TS: No, in fact, I never talked to people within my family about politics at all outside of a couple times that I can remember. In fact I think the first time I ever talked about politics with my father was on Election Day 2004. So, no, it really wasn't ever something that came up. We talked about other things, other interests and priorities that we all shared. I actually prefer that, since I think politics is a little divisive for a family setting like that. I wouldn't want to have ideology, of all things, come between family members. It just seems silly within context.

haystack: Is there anyone in your family politically inclined or otherwise politically active?

TS: Not so much. Every so often I've put my last name into the FEC database for campaign contributions, and my uncle's donated some money to some Democratic campaigns and candidates, but aside from that we aren't a very outwardly politically active family.

haystack: What inspires you about the "political scene"?

TS: At first I think it was the fact that the decisions made in politics really make a difference in people's lives. You know, as a compassionate person, you see people who are hurting and you want to know what you can do to help them. Beyond private charity, sometimes government plays a role in making life better for people. In order for government to do that--to set priorities and policies, if you will--you have to go through the political process. I like the competition aspect of it though.

I think, despite the fact that it is much more high-stakes, it feels a lot like sports. You have basically two teams with players that all have their own unique skills and abilities, and they duke it out. The only difference is that instead of a trophy, the winner gets to set the direction of the most powerful country on Earth.

haystack: What do you like MOST about politics? What do you like least?

TS: What I like most about politics, hands down, is the fact that there are quantifiable and tangible results for a lot of the things that can be accomplished. On the campaign side, few things are more exciting to me than to see the votes come in and to see a good candidate win a race. You just know that so much hard work went into it, and that there was a lot of planning and execution--a lot of things that could have gone wrong but didn't, and it worked out.

Good people who are doing the right thing don't always win in this business, and so when they do I think that's really the best feeling in the world.

What I like least about politics is the cannibalism, and it's something that just has to happen with partisanship and competition. I think it's unfortunate that a lot of times people aren't willing to acknowledge that a person or persons with whom they disagree really is genuine and has the same good intentions, but just has a different way of achieving a similar goal.

You find this intra-party, inter-party, even extra-party. It's pretty frustrating when it happens to you or someone you feel strongly about, but it's part of the game.

haystack: What one thing would you change if you could?

TS: If I could change one thing, I think I would try to change the fairly common opinion about political fundraising. It's obscure, I know, and most people I think would say that they would want to take the money out of politics. I feel a little differently. I hear all the time about how this candidate is in the pocket of the oil industry, or this candidate is in the pocket of the abortion rights lobby.

I wish I could change that, because the truth is that you have candidates and elected officials who are already, by and large, of a particular opinion or persuasion who are sought out by the pressure groups and THEN campaign contributions are made. It's not dishonest or selling out to the highest bidder so much as it is groups that want to reward, if you will, elected officials and candidates who are sympathetic already to their cause.

But I know a lot of people will think I'm naive for looking at it that way, and that's alright. I'm an optimist first and foremost, and I like to look to the best in people rather than presume they're operating from their basest instincts.

haystack: So, what are you doing these days politicallyÉwhat's on your plate right now?

TS: It's still early in the 2006 cycle, but I'm trying to get some things going. Obviously I've got TimSaler.com and all the associated content that goes with it. I'm looking at possibly restarting my 2008 presidential rankings which I began in the summer of 2005 and found to be quite popular among readers. Also I'm still working with No End But Victory, as you know, and hopefully we will have some new and exciting things going on there in the near future.

We've got a great candidate for state representative in nearby Montgomery County who I'll be doing some work for, and perhaps also another candidate for state representative as well, but we won't know about that one for sure. It's quite a bit of work, but I don't feel at all as if my plate is full yet.

haystack: What does that entail?

TS: Well, I'm not really at liberty to talk too much about the details at this point, but it will involve electronic media in the first case whereas the second looks to be a bit more traditional of a campaign. I'd like to go on, but at this point I really can't.

haystack: Fair enough...generically speaking, what goes into the work required in a capmaign for us John and Jane Does that don't know the inner workings of a political campaign?

TS: Well, I am by no means an authority on what goes on inside a campaign, so let me make sure that's clear first and foremost. I think the simplest way to explain it is that, at least around here, you really can't take anything for granted. You've got to be willing to reach out to people and convince them to be for your candidate.

A lot of times it seems like there are people out there who think that all you need is a good candidate, and the voters will just automatically come to find that Person X is a good candidate therefore we should vote for him. Or, alternately, that Person X takes the right positions on the issues therefore he will receive all the votes of people who believe the same things.

In reality it doesn't work like that so much. In many cases you have voters who would traditionally go to to the other side who are brought over to vote for your candidate because you actually cared enough about their vote to ask them for it. There's a lot of complacency among candidates and parties with a long history of winning in a particular district or part of the state (or part of the country, for that matter), and they don't defend their turf very well sometimes.

A Democratic strategist named Dave "Mudcat" Saunders once quizzed a reporter about electoral math, and he asked the reporter how many votes you get when you bring a white male voter over onto the Democrats' side. The reporter said one, Saunders said two. He said it's two because you just took him away from the Republicans. Now I don't get into it on a racial level like that, but if you take the other guy's voter away, you're helping yourself double.

So I've found in my limited experience that there's quite a bit of emphasis placed, at least within good campaigns, on trying to win over voters who aren't even necessarily on the fence but would otherwise commit themselves to the opponent.

haystack: What lies in the wings for short term plans, goals, projects, etc?

TS: The short term plans are pretty much everything that I've already outlined. I'm not sure that there's anything else on the immediate horizon. In terms of goals, I used to really care about the number of people I'd get to come visit the website each day. I don't care quite so much about that, and since I'm not selling advertisements or anything it doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me. But at least in that sense I'd like to keep putting out content that's unique, popular, and the kind of thing that makes people come back for more.

I enjoy it when I see the same House staffer on the site every morning at 10:00 or what have you. I like repeat customers. We're also obviously getting into crunch time on the war in Iraq, with congressional Democrats likely to announce their national policy any day now, and the possibility that it could and would likely call for at least a "strategic redeployment" of our troops from Iraq is quite high.

If the circumstances were right, I wouldn't have any problem with that on principle, but we need to do what we can to try to make sure we keep people in office who are determined to win this war and make sure those who would compromise our ability to win, whatever their party affiliation, aren't sent to Washington this November.

haystack: A man after my own heart, you are on that issue. Let me ask you this. Which projects would you consider life-changing experiences?

TS: I think they're all life-changing in their own way if you're paying attention. You learn lessons from every one, you meet people with whom you make a connection and will learn a lot from personally, and you also make mistakes that you can remember and try your best not to repeat next time around.

I don't know that there's been any one project that's actually been more life-changing than any others for myself. I think what we're doing at No End But Victory has the most impact on people overall because there's a country of millions who, in my opinion, have a God-given right to live in freedom, and we ought to do the right thing and make sure we don't give up on attaining that.

I mean, in comparison to that, whatever I think about the Maine governor's race is pretty insignificant.

haystack: Yeah, I know what you mean. War and Freedom far outweigh a Governor's seat. Which projects were good resume fodder, but otherwise not very exciting?

TS: My own site is pretty boring to tell you the truth. Sometimes it's hard to find something new to talk about. One of the more ironic things that I've noticed and have tried to stray away from, mostly unsuccessfully however, is how a lot of bloggers come to think of themselves kind of like news anchors plus commentary. It's especially ironic when you have people who absolutely rip the mainstream media and yet half the things they write about start from an article they read in the New York Times or something like that.

It's hard not to try to write some blurb about every news story that passes over the wire because you think you've got to have your voice out there on every topic. I try to keep what I do at the site to as little repeat material as possible, which is to say that I don't think people are coming to my site to find out about breaking news. They'll go to FOXNews.com or elsewhere for that. They're not coming for articles so much either, or they would go to the Wall Street Journal.

What they're coming for, I think, is unique content and attention-grabbing op-ed pieces. So, that's what I try to provide. I can't really compete with the huge political sites, so I've got to have something really special if people are going to bother to come by.

haystack: Which was your LEAST favorite political project? Which one your MOST favorite?

TS: Well, without naming names I think my least favorite project was working on a technical re-design of a very popular and widely-read political website. The people were wonderful, and that had nothing to do with it. Great folks. The problem was that I was really quite bad at what I was doing, so it ended up fairly miserable.

My most favorite was probably, and this could change in a hurry of course because it's still going on, one of the state representative campaigns I'm doing some work for. I feel like it's more along the lines of what I ought to be doing. I get typecast sometimes as "the Internet guy" because I know how to use a computer proficiently it seems, even though I'd much rather be doing (and am much better at) more traditional things.

haystack: Describe your absolute WORST experience working a political project?

TS: Oh, I don't know. Like I said, so much of it has been Internet related, but I think troubleshooting the PHP at No End But Victory might have been the worst experience packed into a very short amount of time. I had a headache for a week straight from all that. But, you know, compared to the sacrifices that our soldiers are making for this war effort, this is wildly insignificant.

haystack: I couldn't agree more...November '06 is clearly on the horizon now, with the primary season in full swing. Where do you see the political landscape in January '07?

TS: That's a tough question, and I'll tell you why: a lot of people are trying to make comparisons between 2006 and 1994 in terms of the minority party taking back Congress with an unpopular president and unpopular incumbents. The thing you have to watch out for though is that I think only four major political pundits in 1994 even predicted a GOP victory in the House, and none of them were within 30 seats of the eventual majority.

So, we don't really know what's going to happen in March, but we can take a close look and try to figure out as much as possible. I think January 2007 will see our first 2008 presidential candidacies. It's probably going to take near a third of a billion dollars, if not more, to win the presidency in 2008. You've got to start fundraising fast, and candidates are going to have to be very careful not to peak too early and end up having lost all their support before the first votes are even cast in a caucus or primary.

If I had to guess, I'd say that the Republicans hang on to both houses with reduced margins, and the party feels a lot like they dodged a bullet. Whether they'll be re-energized heading into 2008 depends a lot on the candidates that come out. I think there will be a lot of movement, though, in terms of senators and governors trying to position themselves for higher office.

haystack: What surprises do you foresee?

TS: Depending on whether or not Kate Michelman enters the Pennsylvania Senate race, I think it would be a pretty big surprise to see Rick Santorum sworn in for another term on January 3, 2007. I think we could also have some other candidates that "came back from the dead," so to speak. Arnold Schwarzenegger in California comes to mind. I think Katherine Harris is incredibly underrated in Florida, but whether or not she is able to win depends entirely too much on the national swing in my opinion. And finally, I think the big surprise might be that Dick Cheney would resign after the mid-term elections.

I think it's positively foolish to resign after the mid-terms when the Democrats might control a house of Congress and make approval of the new vice presidential nominee much more difficult. It would also harm the Republicans' chances in 2008 if the next VP is going to be Bush's chosen successor. The Democrats would very much like to head that off from the get-go if possible or force an unpopular candidate. But, it could happen, and I think that'd be a pretty big surprise.

haystack: What will be "more of the same"?

TS: Lobbying reform. No one's fooling anyone on this issue; it's the worst kept secret in town. Any reform on this issue will be minor at best and probably just pay a little lip service to an outraged public.

I mean, think about it: if lobbyists can affect every other vote in Congress, why would they not try to lobby against a vote that would strip them of their influence? What if the vote fails, what kind of relationship do you think the lobbyists will have with the elected official who voted to strip them of their powers? It would be quite a big problem. That's why I don't think it'll get done.

haystack: Are there any State elections worthy of note?

TS: They're all worthy of note to me. One that I think is quite important however is the Alabama governor's race, and here's why. Alabama is set to move up big time for the 2008 primaries, and if Alabama elects a Democratic governor (probably Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley, but former governor Don Siegelman is a possible nominee as well) then that will be huge in terms of a machine that Democratic presidential candidates will have to make deals with. Because it's early, it'll have a major impact on momentum, and it could very well thwart the possibility of another northeastern liberal winning the party's nomination.

The other one that really matters in my opinion is the Ohio governor's race. Who controls the machine in that state heading into 2008 could very well hold the keys to the White House. Republicans need to get their act together there and stop beating each other bloody over Petro versus Blackwell. If this keeps up, whoever wins will be damaged goods, and Ted Strickland will be measuring drapes for the governor's mansion by September. That's not good for the GOP.

haystack: You've covered "some" ground in a few of the areas I want to address with this "tough, next to last question" but close the gaps for me here:

What, if any, election results will bring about major change to the following:

Political front?
Legislative front?
Domestic Policy front?
Foreign Policy front?
SCOTUS front?
Implications for the Presidential race in '08?

TS: Politically, Democrats have the potential to win statewide in places like Montana, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. Those are states that are either fairly solid Republican presidentially or will be in play come 2008. If Democrats have a good year in 2006, they'll be pretty well on their way to having a good year in 2008. It could get ugly in a hurry for Republicans if they don't hang on in some of these states and try to pick up a race or two, maybe Wisconsin or Oregon.

In terms of legislation, I couldn't tell you what will come next. I had a lot of hope about Social Security reform, but it seems dead now. Bill Clinton suggested a system that used index funds some years back, and I've been a big fan of that ever since. It depends a lot on whether control of Congress changes hands, though. If the Democrats win, I would expect them to try to roll back some of the Bush tax cuts and possibly work on a health care or higher education solution that might help them in future races.

On domestic policy, I would not be surprised to see some more emphasis on environmental issues. One more hurricane season like the last one and it'll be pretty hard for people to deny that our world is changing around us and that we might be able to take some steps to improve our safety and our planet's balance.

On foreign policy, I expect us to start withdrawing troops from Iraq in 2007. Not because there will be a major policy shift, but because I think we'll have pretty much completed everything that we're going to be able to accomplish there.

In terms of Iran, I think we'll probably solve our problems with them diplomatically using Russia and China to help place pressure on Iran to cooperate and engage in peaceful behavior.

I think we'll have one more vacancy on the court under Bush, probably John Paul Stevens but who knows, that will turn into an all-out war between pro-abortion and pro-life supporters. With the current law in South Dakota on the books and others being worked on in places like Mississippi and Indiana, this is going to be a monumentally huge issue.

And for 2008, I can't begin to figure it out yet, but my early pick for the Republican nomination is Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. I'm telling you, this guy is really, really good. On the Democratic side, my "dark horse" prediction is that Hillary won't run. But we'll see, that's a long way off still.

haystack: Last questionÉa real softballÉwho do you like in the World Series?

TS: Ah, the best question yet!

At this point, it's really, really hard to say because there's so many teams that play well in spring training and then absolutely fall apart in the regular season.

I see a lot of potential with the Texas Rangers though if their pitching situation works out and Kevin Millwood can play as well as he did last year.

For the National League, the Dodgers will be pretty good if they can get some chemistry going. They had a lot of new faces come in this off-season, so there could be some growing pains as they get used to one another. I like the Diamondbacks too.

The Indians look really good in the AL as well.

haystack: Because you answered the tough question so easily, I have a bonus round question for you: will the Bruins ever win the Stanley Cup again?

TS: Will they someday? Hopefully. Will it be any time soon? Not by the looks of it. The trade deadline is mere hours away, and it's quite possible they might sell off some of their best players like Sergei Samsonov.

We'll see what they choose to do, but right now I think things are looking pretty grim up in Beantown with having traded the franchise away in Joe Thornton.

haystack: Thanks Tim, for taking the time and for introducing us to a name we'll surely hear more of in the years to comeÉremember us little guys when you make the big time, ok?

TS: Well, I appreciate that very much, and thank you for having me.

A Civil War I COULD get behind

2006-03-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

While so many are fearful of an all out Civil War in Iraq, there APPEARS to one on the horizon that I could definitely get behind and support.

Apparently, Sunnis in the Anbar Province have had enough of the insurgents' tactics vis a vis killing Imams and tribal leaders, and have turned their hostilities away from the budding Democracy and fledgling political leadership and have set their sights on the insurgents themselves.

After killing the chief of the Naim tribe and his son, and killing a top tribal sheik who headed the Fallujah city council, and then assassinating the leader of the al-Jubur tribe,

Tribal chiefs in Iraq's western Anbar province and in an area near the northern city of Kirkuk, two regions teeming with insurgents, are vowing to strike back at al-Qaeda in Iraq, a Sunni Arab-led group that is waging war against Sunni tribal leaders who are cooperating with the Iraqi government and the U.S. military. Anbar tribes have formed a militia that has killed 20 insurgents from al-Qaeda in Iraq, leaders said.

I find this passage in the article especially telling:

In a communique, the participants vowed "the shedding of blood" of anyone involved in "sabotage, killings, kidnappings, targeting police and army, attacking the oil and gas pipelines and their transporters, assassinating the religious and tribal figures, technicians, and doctors."

"Hawijah was never a hideout for terrorists and fugitives," the statement added. "Anyone who provides refuge to terrorists will be considered and dealt with like a criminal and terrorist."

We are seeing some signs, however small or subtle, that there is a point at which even the most violent and hostile among the Iraqi people will have reached their own tipping point, will denounce the insurgency as the mechanism to gain or retain control, and will turn to a more political method of addressing their issues and concerns.

While our own Constitution is often challenged and assaults on it's content and context relentless, there continues to be an opportunity with the "Democratization of the Middle East Bush Doctrine" to see that passage in our First Amendment realized as the method of dissent across that region:

"or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

It is frequently said that we can not leave Iraq until she can secure and defend herself from enemies both foreign and domestic.

If it takes a so-called civil war between al Qaeda Sunnis and the rest of the Sunni population to move past homicide bombings and terror to achieve peaceable assembly and petitioning of the Iraqi government for a redress of grievances, then so be it.

The good and the bad: Be careful what you ask for

2006-03-04T06:11:00.000-08:00

I'm usually not an on the fence kinda guy, but THIS story today gives me pause to be encouraged and skeptical all at the same time.

Iraq's President Talabani is quoted as saying:

he had been assured U.S. forces would remain in the country as long as needed - "no matter what the period."

Now while I want our soldiers to come home soon, we all agree we want their return to be based on the clear and unequivocal completion of the mission and that they bring with them a clear and unequivocal victory. Much debate about these two points have provided for oft-times contentious and heated debate both here and around the blogoshpere. Nonetheless, these are my hopes and expectations.

That said, I have been encouraged of late that while the threat of civil war in Iraq loomed ominously in recent days, it turns out this has been averted, at least for a time. I am also encouraged that the improvements the Iraqi security forces and systems continue to make were able to hold up against the pressures of the conflicts between the Sunnis and the Shi'ites in the aftermath of the bombing of the mosque in Samarra.

My concerns, however, lay with Dr. al-Jaafari, his role in the United Iraqi Alliance, and his relationship with al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia. You should recall the problems al-Sadr has caused Iraqi and coalition forces for many a year now, and you should recall the "alleged" ties he has with Iran. It is well known that there continues to be conflicts and sectarian hostilities between the various factions inside the country, and perhaps while some may slap me for saying this, it is at the very least to be expected as a natural element of a country settling into where it's people stand and on whose side they're willing to be. But at some point the evolution from fractured "warring factions of self-preservation" to collective acceptance, peace, and unity for one cause-"Allah and Country" should prevail.

My skepticism comes from the notion that al-Sadr's militia has been actively engaged in recent days with assisting in security. I just have a very hard time taking that at face value. The article tells us that Shiities are being

frisked by al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militiamen in yellow button-down collar shirts and armed with Kalashnikov rifles and metal detector wands

and further that

The militia that kept order was the same force accused of going on a rampage of reprisal attacks against Sunni Muslim mosques and clerics after the bombing of the Shiite shrine in Samarra.

Police and aides to al-Sadr agreed Thursday night the anti-American cleric's militiamen would help government security forces patrol the poor Shiite neighborhood after it was hit by a deadly bomb attack.

The government decision to legitimize patrols by the Mahdi Army - which had been going on anyway - appeared to have tacit U.S. military approval, even though American forces have fought protracted battles with the Shiite fighters for control of southern holy cities and the Sadr City Shiite stronghold.

Acceptance of the higher profile for the Mahdi Army, if only for a time, signaled the extreme importance U.S. authorities have put on quelling deadly sectarian violence after the Samarra bombing.

Is it just me, or is there a problem with this concept? While it is consistent with my earlier statement that the natural evolution would see this development as a good sign that we are getting closer to Iraqis tending to their own business, I am quite skeptical as to whether al-Sadr's motives are pure, or that he may see an opportunity to strengthen his holdings on the minds of Shi'ites who would otherwise fear for their lives were they not to fervently follow any order or mandate this man were to issue. There is an old expression that seems fitting here:

This is exactly what I asked for but not what I wanted

I hope I turn out to be wrong in this case.

Ever Vigilant

2006-03-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

General Casey has told us today that

"it appears that the crisis has passed"

in reference to all the recent fears and worries about an impending civil war in Iraq. That said, the news of plans for possible attacks being developed by al Qaeda , the developing story that al Qaeda has infiltrated the West Bank and Gaza, the continued saber rattling coming from Iraq's neighbors to the east, and the apparent unwillingness of Hamas to tone down the rhetoric and express interest in peace all serve to remind us that the Middle East is a very dangerous and worrisome place in the world right now.

While the General believes the immediate crisis has passed, he goes on to suggest that it is a fragile time in Iraq, and we must be careful, watchful and ever vigilant. Our success in Iraq has been often un-reported, under-reported, or completely disregarded by many media outlets and detractors of the war. While our soldiers must be ever watchful and vigilant in their duties, so too shoud we stay on our leaders here at home.

Whatever definition we can muster for Victory, it must at the very least include the absolute need for the Iraqi people themselves to protect and defend themselves from enemies both foreign and domestic. With the pressures all around her borders, Iraq must become strong, safe, and secure. We are helping them do that with our military and we must also help them by making sure our leadership here gives them the resources they need to do it.

Some good friends of mine need your help

2006-02-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

These are the words on a referendum in Wisconsin coming up on April 4, 2006. Some very good friends of ours has launched a website, and has asked us to join in their fight. We gladly and wholely support them and their cause.

VOTENOTOCUTANDRUN.COM

These fine folks have stood up and said "Enough". They are sick of the activism from anti-War movements undermining and short-circuiting our soldiers and their families and are fighting back. They need our help; whether you live there or not, if you can donate money, time, writing to politicians or the media...DO IT! Go to their website. Contact them. Do it today.

From the Site:

We are a group of dedicated volunteers from Dane County, Wisconsin; born and raised Wisconsinites and descendants of American patriots; who have served, are married to, related to, or simply support those who have volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces.

The morale of our troops directly depends on the support they receive from the American public. We believe the brave men and women, who are fighting and have died for the just cause of freedom and a humane society, deserve the support and appreciation of every Wisconsin citizen. We want our troops to hear our voices, know our hearts, know that we stand with them until they finish the job they have done so well and return home with honor.

Millions of loyal, hard working patriotic Americans support our troops in every way - their morale and their mission. We are confident the majority of Wisconsinites agree with the rest of America and will vote their conscience on April 4, and a little later will give our Troops the kind of welcome home they so richly deserve.

Here is their full Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.VOTENOToCutandRun.com
Information: contact@votenotocutandrun.com
Sam Johnson 608-244-2319

Madison group says Vote No To Cut And Run

February 27: The grass roots group Vote No To Cut And Run formally launched their web site, www.votenotocutandrun.com to voice and build opposition to an anti-military referendum that will appear on April 4 ballots in twenty plus communities in Wisconsin.

The referendum (with variations) that Wisconsin voters are being asked to consider reads:

“Resolved: The United States should bring all military personnel home from Iraq now.”

Q: Imagine what would happen if we did this NOW!

The stated aim of the groups behind the referendum is to make Wisconsin a test case for the nation on the “Bring the troops home now” question, without addressing how it effects community members who have, are now, or soon will be serving in Iraq or the impact on the new Iraqi nation.

VoteNoToCutAndRun.com reveals the nature of these groups, exposes their true agenda which is not about the welfare of the troops, as it is embarrassing the military through a hasty withdrawal while moving for impeachment of the President and his administration. Their literature reveals their view of our military as the cause of all violence in the world, rather than their protectors from that violence.

VoteNoToCutAndRun.com challenges the premise and false dichotomy that support of our troops can be separated from support of their mission. (“I support the troops BUT,”)

VoteNoToCutAndRun.com points out that our Armed Forces are volunteers, (not draftees) including thousands from Wisconsin who have served, are serving or will serve admirably in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, are risking their lives daily and have made incredible progress in rebuilding and stabilizing Iraq. Ask a soldier, “How would you feel if this passes?”

VoteNoToCutAndRun.com believes that Wisconsin voters will see the manipulation that this referendum represents and understand the harm that is being done to the morale of Wisconsin service men and women whose home towns have put it up.

VoteNoToCutAndRun.com is a source of information for the 20 plus Wisconsin communities who are paying taxes for the referendum, but are dedicated to defeating it.

A call has been made asking for help. Do all you can for them, as we are here trying to further these very same goals: First Victory, THEN Withdrawal...we expect nothing less.
..neither do they.

At Last! Profiling is back in Vogue

2006-02-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

For much of the time since 9/11 this country has gone OUT OF ITS WAY to tell the American people AND the rest of the world that we are not anti Arab or anti Muslim...we are anti terrorists including the Radical Muslim contingents. We have minced words, wrung hands, and done more than most to avoid making Arabs and Muslims feel uncomfortable and unloved.

We have tightened security everywhere imagineable; airports, subways, train stations...you name it. What we HAVE NOT done is to single out anyone who may fit the profile of our enemies SOLELY on the basis of their race, creed, nationality, gender, age, or religious persuasion because we are the most diverse and tolerant nation on the planet; we are the enlightened ones.

In executing these new security systems and measures, we have increased invasive searches and investigations and inquiries(and in some cases seizures) on everyone BUT those who would fit the typical profile of our enemies; young Arab males between the ages of 18 and 45. Grandmas, Nuns, and babies in strollers have a better chance of being stopped and searched and scrutinized than an Arab male between the ages of 18 and 45. Phew...thank goodness our Arab males aren't feeling uncomfortable or unloved.

As we settled into Nirvana, behind our backs and in closed secretive conference rooms, our government has been conspiring to allow the United Arab Emirates to open up shop on our ports...OUR PORTS right here at home in the good ole US of A! The horror! The unspeakable! Those Traitors!

We must stand up and make this stop! We must make the President stand down! He is a dummy and a fool and is opening up the gates of hell so the Arab Muslims can infiltrate this fine, tolerant, diverse, Arab and Muslim loving country and kill everyone and blow everything up!

Come on people. Look at yourselves. Britain is an ally with radical muslims that were born there and that blew up subways and have protests that kill people or burn homes and business...So does France and Spain and just about any other of a number of countries that could have made the bid to buy out P&O. They have banks with terrorist money in them. They have legitimate businesses that are, under the cloak of secrecy, funneling money to terrorist groups within and outside their borders. You're making yourselves look ridiculous. Profiling is back, and everyone railing about this deal is standing up and saying in very clear and loud voices:

They are Arabs and we can't trust them here. We want them to like us from within their own countries, but we don't care how they feel about us when they are in ours.

If you want to be against the deal, be against it for what it is...we are continuing to relinquish control of our businesses to other countries because we can't seem to run them effectively enough ourselves. Why was a British company running these ports? Why are Communist Chinese companies running others? And Japan, and on and on ad infinitem?

All you anti Dubai people out there...are you ready to buy the P&O company with US funds...have it back under US control? Worse still, under US GOVERNMENT control? Or will you bitch and scream about the deficit...about how we need to spend our money in better places like entitlements and waste? Here's a thought...how 'bout we stand up and rail about illegal imimigration some more and maybe give a little air time to securing the borders. There's a thought.

If you are against the deal, you better not stand up and say anybody but UAE...that makes you a hypocrite. Better stand up and say PRO-US Business...

Having it both ways

2006-02-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

I try to avoid the topic of abortion here for a whole host of reasons, not the least of which is the emotions this debate elicit when it is discussed.. I must take a time-out from that today because I just can't stand the hyprocisy any longer.

THIS story makes my head want to explode into tiny little pieces. In it, we are told that no doctor can be found to administer the lethal dose that would execute one pathetic loser named Michael Morales, consistent with California death penalty and execution statutes.

A little research on this case will tell you that Morales was convicted of rape and murder for his part in the death of a 17 year old girl in San Joaquin County California back in January of 1981. As usual, after 25 years in prison at San Quentin, and with time running out, this scum pulled out all the stops after all his previous appeals had been denied, and finally found a US District Judge(Jeremy Fogel) to hear an appeal that the current lethal injection method (3 shots-one to anesthetize, one to paralyze, and one to stop the heart) was a violation of the US Constitution's 8th Amendment which protects against cruel and unusual punishment.

While his execution was upheld, this District Judge (in his infinite judicial activism wisdom) ordered that Prison officials either bring in Doctors to ensure Morales is properly anesthetized, OR skip shot 2 and shot 3, and simply overdose him on a sedative until he dies. Atta boy Judge...rewrite the science of execution chemicals and just let him have some happy juice til his heart and brain explode...but at least he won't feel it! Thank goodness.

Oh, did I mention how long it took for Morales' victim to succumb to the 23 plus hammer blows to the skull...that she was in and out of consciousness all through the beating and the rape and the stabbing? Did I mention that he raped her AFTER the hammer blows...and after he raped her she was still alive so he had to stab her in the chest a few times just to make sure?

Let's not be mean to him JUST because of what he did to her. After all, execution is SUPPOSED to be the carriage of justice, not social retribution, right?

So why does this have me steamed about abortion?

A Wikipedia read will give you the cold hard sterile description of the Partial Birth Abortion procedure, technically known as "Intact Dilation and Extraction". A read at the National Right to Life website puts it in a little more human context though, and leaves you feeling a little sick inside. Another website puts it in REAL LIFE FIRST PERSON perspective. And I quote:

" I stood at the doctor's side and watched him perform a partial-birth abortion on a woman who was six months pregnant. The baby's heartbeat was clearly visible on the ultrasound screen. The doctor delivered the baby's body and arms, everything but his little head. The baby's body was moving. His little fingers were clasping together. He was kicking his feet. The doctor took a pair of scissors and inserted them into the back of the baby's head, and the baby's arms jerked out in a flinch, a startle reaction, like a baby does when he thinks that he might fall. Then the doctor opened the scissors up. Then he stuck the high-powered suction tube into the hole and sucked the baby's brains out. Now the baby was completely limp. I never went back to the clinic. But I am still haunted by the face of that little boy. It was the most perfect, angelic face I have ever seen."

Note to class: I am against abortion in almost every case except Maternal Death Risk.

Having said that, I am disgusted that Doctors can't bring themselves to kill Morales because their medical oath prevents them from doing anything but IMPROVE a person's condition, yet they seem to have no problem performing abortions...especially this "Intact Dilation and Extraction", or so-called Partial Birth Abortion procedure, on unborn babies. I'll get no answer, but I feel better for saying this is all a load of activism crap from the Left who has mastered the ability to be FOR Life by being against the Death Penalty while being FOR Death by being in favor of Abortion.

And when you put all this aside, a court order to execute a convicted rapist and murder is not being followed...doesn't that make SOMEONE in contempt of court?

Horse of a Different Color?

2006-02-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

You say Tomato, I say Tamotto...you say Redeployment, I say Cut and Run...

If ever there was a time to pick up the pace and get moving...physically MOVING into action, THIS IS IT! I strongly encourage each and everyone of you to decide where you come down on this, and ENGAGE with your politicians directly about where you want them to come down on this in your stead...pro or con.

I want to say up front that this is NOT a hit piece against the Democrats...it is intended to look at the specific issue at hand. While some of you will see it differently, I want everyone from both sides to debate the specifics of what I am about to say...not the party affiliation behind it.

The news article referenced above describes a "commom message on the War in Iraq" around which party leaders are beginning to coalesce. In this case, it is the Democratic Party...but again, that is not the point. The common message is this:

[..]to begin a quick withdrawal of US troops and install them elsewhere in the region, where they could respond to emergencies in Iraq and help fight terrorism in other countries.

Let's filter out the Politics of this for a minute and look at the concept. The article states that "a former Reagan administration assistant Defense secretary, Lawrence J. Korb" coauthored a nine page report last fall. In this report he

sets a goal of a phased troop withdrawal that would take nearly all US troops out of Iraq by the end of 2007

Jack Reed of Rhode Island-an Army veteran and former paratrooper-is apparently a spokesman for this plan, and says this:

The idea of a phased deployment of troops out of Iraq recognizes that a huge US military presence in the country is straining the armed services as well as feeding the insurgency, Reed said. He added that many military commanders agree that the nation should be moving toward taking American troops out of Iraq, to better equip the military to respond to threats around the world and give the Iraqi government a greater incentive to handle its own security.

''It's important to note that it's not withdrawal -- it's redeployment," Reed said.

''We need to pursue a strategy that is going to accomplish the reasonable objectives, and allow us to have strategic flexibility. Not only is it a message, but it's a method to improve the security there and around the globe."

In the plan, co-author Korb further suggests "all reservists and National Guard members would come home this year. Most of the other troops would be redeployed to other key areas -- Afghanistan, Southeast Asia, and the Horn of Africa -- with large, quick-strike forces placed in Kuwait, where they could respond to crises in neighboring Iraq." Additionally, in a recent interview Korb was quoted as follows:

"setting dates for troop withdrawal would send a message to the Iraqi people that the United States does not intend to set up permanent military bases in Iraq. Starting the redeployment quickly will ensure that the Army does not wear out before the insurgents do, he said.

''The Iraqis want us to go," said Korb, who has opposed Bush's decision to invade Iraq from the start. ''If you're out by the end of 2007, we'll have been there almost five years. That's not cutting and running."

Now, the rest of the article goes on to analyze the political wrangling behind the plan offered up by Korb and others, and sadly, describes the political gain that can be realized in the '06 elections should the Dems (in this case) coalesce around a message and this alternative strategy to the one the Bush Administration has pursued to date...again, I am not out for a debate here as to whether the Dems are right or the Repubs are right...just to debate the fundamental question this story poses:

Is withdrawal and redeployment the appropriate next-step in the strategy to the war in Iraq or is it a new, electable re-wording of the term cutting and running? Comments please...

Here's the Rub...

2006-02-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

We all know by now that Vice President Dick Cheney was involved in a bird hunting accident recently. Anyone who hunts knows this is a thankfully rare and yet not surprisingly common occurence, at least in the arena of bird hunting.

A quick search in Google will tell you what should be no surprise...they happen. What is interesting in my 5 minutes of work however is that in "Google Search" under the "Web" link, I found 866,000 plus matches to the search string "bird hunting accidents"...and guess what? Under the "News" link I found a whopping 574 matches to the same search string. What does this mean?

It happens a lot, and it almost never makes the news. Why then does the awful experience our Vice President has recently endured been deemed so news worthy? Because it is juicy fodder for any number of groups out there with nothing good to say or better to do than beat the relentless drum of antipathy.

This poor man has shot a friend accidentally while out enjoying the fresh air, comaraderie, and beauty of nature; hell, he was getting good exercise to boot. All anyone cares about is conspiracy theories, Administration secretiveness, and whether the VP came out publicly about it fast enough, or has been sufficiently forthcoming since he has addressed the public on the matter.

A question I would ask is this: "Does anyone care how he feels about what hapened? Does anyone have the slightest bit of respect and decency for the man in the hospital who was on the receiving end of this bird shot? Nope. How many beers? Why did you wait so long? How do you feel about guns NOW? What are you hiding?

I believe the only thing he is hiding is himself from the chum sucking media whores out for their name on a byline...I think he is trying to reckon with himself and his poor friend whom he accidentally shot, and for whom he has deep concern. But that is not news, now is it?

To be equally as nasty for just a moment, I suggest you consider the lack of forthrightness when Bill helped dry off Monica's blue dress; I don't recall him coming forward with it as soon as it happened...hmmm.

Then there's Senator Kennedy ...I don't believe he came out with his little car accident right away either. Then, there's Senator Reid's lack of forthrightness regarding his sroke last summer.

Oh, wait-I believe the Clintons were remiss to address the public after Vincent Foster's untimely suicide, an event the aspiring Presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton has been implicated in helping to cover up...

But I digress. Here's the rub:
Accidents happen. People get hurt in accidents. Friends and family mourn and grieve and suffer the heavy weight of these things with their privacy and dignity intact. If anyone on the left side of the aisle were in a similar situation, it would either have NEVER made the headlines, or would, a day later, be yesterday's news...but if you're the evil Haliburton kingpin...different rules.

While we are at war in the Middle East, and are struggling at home to sustain and grow the economy, and are fighting fervently to ensure our security without sacrificing our personal liberties, we apparently are more concerned about a tragic hunting accident which would have never made the news if it hadn't happened to such an unpopular guy in the media, who happens to work for an even MORE unpopular guy in the media; his boss Mr. President George W. Bush.

My miniscule bandwidth says this: I'm sorry for your pain Mr. Cheney, I'm sorry for your injuries Mr. Whittington and may god speed your recovery. I'm sorry Whittington and Cheney families that I live in a country where those who completely control the national dialog has chosen to scorn you, villify you, and abuse and make light of your tragic experience so they can further their advertising and sales revenues.

Deeply sorry.

A suggestion on Voting Reform

2006-02-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

No one in his or her right mind would ever support this, but I have a hair-brained idea on a change we should make to the system of voting in this country.

We should have ALL election cycles be set to every 6 months. Yep-6 months.

It is the dawn of the '06 election cycle, and as always, the politicians start anew to talk to US, and tell us how they feel, what they believe, and what they'd like to do for us if only we would elect them into office...this dynamic has been called many things over the years, such as pandering, pushing the palm, and one of my favorites-stumping.

Now, with a couple Google hours under my belt, I could probably find 50 examples of the point I want to make here, but as a Texan, I'll give you ONLY THIS ONE to drive home the point.

My Governor Rick Perry (who I reluctantly voted for, and will reluctantly vote for again because of my dedication to my party affiliation) suggests that he must deploy all available and practical resources to the Texas-Mexico border because the Feds are overwhelmed, understaffed, and apparently incapable of dealing with the border crisis we face. Now, this SOUNDS fantastic...awesome...inspiring...and encouraging.

The problem is that he has had the entire Presidential term of his former boss to address this issue (one that has been internationally debated and discussed) and has done zip to address it until NOW...the entry into the Gubernatorial election cycle of 2006. He has a lowly challenger in Carol Keaton-Strayhorn (a Republican running as an independent because she knows she'll never beat Perry in the Primaries), but this challenge is fearful enough to his strategists that he has to start looking like a Governor now that there is a credible challenge to his supremacy in Texas politics.

My point in today's rant is simple. Since all it seems to take is a threat to keeping the cushy do-nothing, look pretty job of head-of-State of a member of our fine Republic, why don't we make them worry about being unseated every 6 months?

Whenever an election cycle rears its ugly head, the political scum out there starts actually doing the work they avoided for 90% of the term they were elected to serve. If we had them worry about being fired more often; more frequently... maybe(like us chumps that have to earn our jobs and salaries everyday) they'd actually do the jobs we hired them at the ballot box to do.

Na Na Na Na Poopy...

2006-02-07T06:59:00.000-08:00

The media has been a buzz of late about the reaction among many in the Muslim community regarding the controversial cartoons depicting Mohammed in an off-color, or derogatory caricature-style way. Embassies have been burned, death threats have been leveled, and Journalists, Editors, and Publishers have gone into hiding. That's the bad news.

The good news, apparently, is HERE in a piece from Reuters which tells us that Iran is sponsoring a cartoon contest in search of the 12 best cartoons depicting the Holocaust. The winners will each receive 2 gold coins.

Phew. For a minute there, I thought they were actually upset about the cartoons on the merits of whether Mohammed and their "divine religion" of Islam was being insulted or defaced. Thank goodness this is just a "I can make you madder than yo can make ME contest"...thank goodness.

Iran is basically going to stick their thumbs in their ears, wiggle their fingers, waffle their tongues in little raspberry sounds, and chant:

Na Na Na Na Poopies...

All is well again among the grown up Nations of the World...

Everything in our Power

2006-02-07T05:09:00.000-08:00

In recent weeks, a scant few on the left side of the aisle have begun to engage in the debate about supporting our troops with no preconditions...a very SCANT few...and those still hiding behind the "we support our troops BUT" mini skirt are starting to get exposed in ever greater detail.

One such Politician not afraid to call them out is Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite from Florida, who posted this in the St. Petersburg Times recently. In this op-ed, she rails on those who decry a "support for the troops" while trying to maintain the precarious balance of simultaneously being against the war. A difficult equilirium to maintain, indeed.

A passage of great import from Rep. Brown-Waite suggests

Support is not a slogan. Support is more than wearing a button. Support is active. Supporting the troops is not saying things that encourage our enemies. Support is not saying things that make it harder for our troops to fight. Supporting the troops requires a commitment to win.

And this last begs the question, "What is this commitment to win? What does it look like? Will I know it when I see it? Will I know when someone ISN'T committed to winning?"

I look around me, and I see many examples of commitment; children being kissed goodbye at the airport with fear and confidence in their eyes as they are being deployed with tears of pride on the faces of the families sacrificing their sons and daughters to this noble cause. I see commitment in the pride and dignity shown at a family gathering when pictures of children in fatigues with their brothers and sisters in theater are being proudly displayed and spread around the room. I see commitment when I travel on business, and run of the mill Americans approach GI's and shake their hands, or hug them as strangers, or give up their seats on the bus, or buy them a drink in an attempt to show a little touch of affection and love...or just a little nudge of encouragement. I see commitment when, out of the blue, a wide-eyed child asks them for their autograph, or a tourist asks if they can have their picture taken with them...I see every day Americans no matter where I go state out loud and without shame that they admire and respect what our soldiers do, honor their sacrifice, and envy their status as our heroes and protectors. I see America at its finest in these moments.

And then, like a freight train, I turn on the TV, or read the paper, or listen to the radio news, and I hear things like this:

The leader [Nancy Pelosi] voted against funding for the Patriot Act and she voted against establishing the Department of Homeland Security. How about for our troops on the ground? The leader of the Democrats voted to cut intelligence funding by $500-million and voted to cut intelligence authorization by nearly 1 percent. This is how liberal Democrats support the troops.

When confronted with these policy choices, the common refrain from Democrats, and I've noticed it printed often in this newspaper, is to say, "You questioned my patriotism." Well, I defy the editor of this paper or any paper to show where I questioned anyone's patriotism. I don't know of any Republican, from the president to the county chairman, who has done so.

This Author is not so quick to mince my words. Rep. Brown-Waite, after this last passage goes on to defend herself by trying to suggest, apologetically I might add, that she does not challenge one's patriotism when she challenges one's commitment to Victory.

Haystack does. Many of the Americans I meet on the road, in the airport, at the office, around the bonfire on the weekend, and everywhere in between would tell you the same. They would tell you that it is not possible to support one without supporting the other. We ALL have an opinion on its execution, it's strategy at the onset, and whether it has been adjusted accordingly or appropriately since its inception. And we would all, also, tell you that we have a hundred suggestions for the Administration if we had 5 minutes of their attention...and NONE of them would tell you we should "get while the gettin's good"; they will instead tell you we should turn it up a few notches and get it finished and over with. They would all tell you these brave men and women are the most imprtant resource this country has, and every sacrifice should be made here at home to make sure they finish what WE started, and bring them home with the job finished...and with THEM victorious.

Nothing less is acceptable. Nothing less will do. Aything less than full Victory is not an option in the American culture...and is not an option for the American people. To suggest a retreat, or a withdrawal, or anything less than a total defeat of the enemy would be to suggest that we don't believe in ourselves, our strength, or our ability to rise to any challenge near or far and overcome it. This is un-Patriotic, and it can not be accepted.

Rep. Brown-Waite gets the last word on this post. She says this:

The administration believes our nation faces grave threats, and the president has made the choice that we will fight in Afghanistan and Iraq, not in New York or Florida. Like it or not, we are engaged in a global war, and all of us should be doing everything in our power to win the war and protect the American people.

[...]

This month I will be in Iraq and able to see the progress for myself. In the meantime, I know these facts: 10,000 insurgents cannot defeat our Army or our Marines. The cause in Iraq is noble. It is the fight for freedom and for civilization, and with great sacrifice we are winning. Victory will take more time and more sacrifice, but we cannot lose unless we defeat ourselves, lose our nerve or our will to win.

Unnecessary Abuse of Freedom of Speech

2006-02-05T06:31:00.000-08:00

is apparently a law on the books in Jordan. I would love that law here in the US!

An article from the BBC through Drudge tells of two editors at the al-Mehwar and Shihan papers in Jordan being fired after publishing the contoversial caricature cartoons of Mohammed in their newspaper. They were also arrested and charged with "insulting religion", and

Jordanian King Abdullah condemned the cartoons as an unnecessary abuse of freedom of speech.

I find the notion of holding free speechers to some degree of account for their actions an amazingly profound one, and one we should take a long hard look at here in the US. The list is too long to repeat here, but all of us can remember at least a couple occasions where just such liberties have been taken by the media where it involves their reserved right to Free Speech under the First Amendment...liberties that have often times been subsequently PROVEN to be wrong with no follow up clarifications or retractions or apologies offered or mandated.

As an aside, perhaps the most significant passage in this article will definitely NOT be played out in the media here in the US in the coming days, but deserves to be brought to everyone's attention who may desire a victorious end to the war on terror:

Mr Momani's paper, Shihan, had printed three of the cartoons, alongside an editorial questioning whether the angry reaction to them in the Muslim world was justified.

"Muslims of the world be reasonable," wrote Mr Momani.

"What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?"

I defy anyone in the media to point out that these Jordanian media personalities, Muslims themselves, were trying to show the reaction to the cartoons by many in the world of Islam is misguided and ill placed.

Election year-itis

2006-02-05T04:53:00.000-08:00

The election season is shifting into gear, and will soon be in full swing. States around the country will be having primaries and caucuses to determine who will face off in Novenber 2006. Let the rhetoric begin.

An example of campaign (or pre-campaign) rhetoric is the esteemed Senator from Pennsylvania (one whom I have had much respect for over these past few years; standing behind the President on a host of issues and aligning himself with the Party consensus on others with which he may have quietly disagreed).

Then comes this little tidbit from The Hill News. In this piece written by Mr. Santorum, he tells us what issues we Americans care most about. They are, in order, as follows:

1)Access to affordable healthcare
2) Education
3) Energy Independence
4) Growing the economy

Now, from where I sit, those are all fine priorities indeed. But they are not on my list, at least as the top 4, nor are they items people I know are talking most about.

Did I mention Mr. Santorum is running for re-election this year?

Yet here we are, talking about the same popular hit list we have seen regurgitated over and over during each of the most recent campaigns.

They still don't get it.

We are in a war, and not a word was mentioned about it. Nor was the deficit or Social Security, or any of the issues about terrorism, abortion, the death penalty, or any of a whole host of items that may lead to argument and philosophical debate.

One can wax prophetic on the issues Mr. Santorum discusses here, and do so with such eloquence and grace that one can feel real good after hearing it...and forget what really fires them up. One can go home after a big campaign rally and think "man, this guy has my vote" long before it sinks in that none of the things they get emotional about were ever mentioned. Ahh, politics at its finest; tell 'em what they want to hear before they ask about the stuff you have no answers for...

Stunning Victory in Global War on Terror

2006-01-26T18:17:00.000-08:00

The developing story out of Palestine suggests that Hamas will assume majority position in that Country’s Parliament. This is stunning, dramatic, and a significant victory for our side in the war on terror. While many will think I am crazy, I suggest you consider a few realities in this war.

Today, the terrorists we fight are invisible; they’re in buses, shopping centers, movie theaters, open air markets. They’re in commercial airplanes, mingling in hotel weddings, and could be any where, at any time, striking at anything, for any number of reasons or, for that matter, for no reason at all other than to see how many people they can kill. This is the nature of the enemy we face, and they were all given birth, ostensibly, in Palestine.

A Little Context:

The most modest of research into 20th and 21st century history will show the rise of modern day terrorism, on a large strategic scale, goes back at least as far as Ireland; the Catholics against the Protestants and those wanting to retain British meddlings in the country against those who did not. The method and madness of terrorism took the face of indiscriminate bombings of innocent bystanders-killing many men, women, and children, and the collateral destruction of homes and shops and public institutions. The targets seemed random and heartless, the perpetrators labeled mindless, bloodthirsty thugs. Their defense then was that it took these kinds of measures to show the depth of their commitment, and the seriousness of their demands.

Yasser Arafat was a good student of this history; of this type of terrorism, as was many others including Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaida network to name a few. While many have asserted that the racial or ethnic background of Arafat and Bin Laden and others is especially significant in the discussion about the war on terror, that this is somehow a war on Arabs or a war on Muslims, I personally believe this is a convenient coincidence. It could just as easily be termed a war on Nation Hijackers.

History has a long list of Nation Hijackers: Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Castro to name a few. A case could be made that the leadership of almost every non-democratic country in the world today is ruled by Nation Hijackers. The Royal family in Saudi Arabia, the Syrian leadership, the Jordanian royalty; what these countries have in common most is simply that control is in the hands of those who would kill anyone wishing to replace them, or at least imprison them to prevent any loss of their power, control, or leadership. That these are Arab countries, and that they are fundamentally Muslim, is to me a pure coincidence; what is significant here is that they are ultimately trying to hijack a nation that some of us in the world flatly refuse to allow them to hijack: Israel.

The case of our opponent is, of course, that Israel hijacked Palestine and they are simply exercising their rights to defend themselves against this act of aggression. I am no ancient historian, but I suggest that this back and forth has been going on for thousands of years and is essentially irrelevant from the standpoint of how we go forward from here.

When a person or a group rises up with righteous indignation against some terrible wrong they and their people are suffering, we call it courage and determination; we call them freedom fighters. When freedom fighters win, and assume control of their situation or their country and begin to right the wrongs, we call them free and sovereign nations, or emerging democracies, and other democracies of the world vow to stand by them and help them through their struggle; we call them Allies. When they settle in to their new roles, and become bloated with power and supremacy and begin killing political opponents, killing innocent citizens who would disobey their will, imprisoning anyone in the media who dare openly question their power or authority, we call them Tyrants and Dictators, and we vow to defeat them or remove them or support the next round of freedom fighters who would rise up with righteous indignation. When they kill tens or hundreds or thousands of innocent bystanders to make a point, we call them Terrorists.

Yasser Arafat was a freedom fighter, with righteous indignation against the Israeli advance on, and occupation of, his territory and the Israeli presumption of ownership and control of Arafat’s homeland. While not fully victorious, he regained some of his homeland and control over his people living within it. Like so many before him, he became bloated; unsatisfied that all his demands weren’t met, hostile to the invading neighbor he spent his life fighting to eradicate from the planet. He, and the organizations he controlled or coexisted peacefully with have and continue their execution of terrorist attacks on innocent bystanders while killing themselves as well if it maximizes the kill count. Arafat and his loose coalition of killers included an impressive invitation list, many of whom fight on today.

The war with Osama Bin Laden is because of his position on whose team we’re on in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an admission he has made publicly and repeatedly. He also considers our role and relationship with his homeland, Saudi Arabia, and the extent to which our western ways have dirtied and cheapened his interpretations of Islam to be worthy of our departure from the middle east with a promise never to return or face eradication from the earth. As a show of good faith he had two commercial airplanes flown into the Twin Towers taking out thousands of innocent bystanders.

As an aside on OBL, I am more concerned for Muslims than I am for the US or Israel or any of his bombing targets. Bin Laden’s rabid defense of Palestine and the high profile assassinations of Americans around the world were merely, I’m cynically afraid, his way of getting a ticket to the dance. I believe Bin Laden is doing his own shrewd Nation Hijacking and that Nation is Islam itself. The more successes he has, the more followers he gets. The more followers, the more converts. While this reality is still very dangerous for those of us he wishes to destroy, he will himself be dead one day (by our hands I hope). What will be left behind is an Islam that shames the true Koran, shames Mohammed, and shames the memories of all that fought and died protecting and preserving both.

GWOT Reality Check:

We can’t beat an enemy we can’t see, and we can’t know we’ve won if we don’t know who is supposed to surrender. The center of the war really IS right there in Israel and Palestine, and the greater Middle East. We know Iran is itching to eradicate Israel, but we can assume that if they COULD they already would have. We can assume Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and ALL the others share that sentiment.

That it hasn’t happened yet has as much to do with International responsibility, and membership in the Global Economy Boy’s Club, as it has to do with whether anyone thinks they would lose because the West is better armed and equipped. Frankly, it is more likely that they don’t want to risk losing commerce, access to world markets, profit, and all the terrible “trappings” the West has to give vis a vis Capitalism…the almighty dollar, yen, euro, whatever.

Whether you support President Bush and his foreign policy or not, it must be recognized that some established government and sovereign nation called Palestine must ultimately exist. It must also be recognized, if selfishly so, that Democracy in every Middle East country would be a far better proposition for the US than the various types of governments we face there today. We just know how to deal with them better I guess, but at the very least it is a fair assumption that leaders will come and go as elected by the people, and that entrenched dictatorships would in theory not have a chance to take root.

We needed a Democracy in Iraq with fair and full elections. They were successful and reflected the will of the people. That’s all we can do if we truly respect their sovereignty. We keep saying that we want to spread Democracy around the world, starting in the Middle East, and Palestine has had their own elections; the people have spoken. If we want to be honest arbiters with all countries, and respect the rights of a Palestinian State and an Israeli State to live side by side and work out their difference among themselves, we need to respect this election and applaud it loudly as another show of Democracy taking hold in the Middle East.

I know I know-they were terrorists until 2 days ago…but now they are the Government. We can SEE them. We know WHERE they are and WHO they are. They are out in the light. If their intentions are good; that they want to fix the lives of the Palestinian people, we should support them wherever we can like we have always done. If they establish an honest negotiating relationship with Israel, renounce terrorism, and withdraw their stated purpose to destroy Israel and begin to move towards peace and harmony, we need to say “go in peace”.

If they see this as the next stepping stone toward Israeli eradication well, it’s game on…but we’ll know where and who and we’ll finally have an enemy we can see.

Either way, Hamas winning is a victory for the GWOT. Either they finally get the peace and land agreements done so we can all move on and stop fighting terrorists who want to kill us because we support Israel, or they exact an act of aggression on Israel which will set off a chain reaction that will finally get this resolved one way or another. Either way, I would rather see my enemy and live or die fighting him, than to see this war of attrition…a soldier here a soldier there…a mom and dad and kid on the bus in Haifa, a couple thousand people at work minding their own business in a couple skyscrapers, a couple hundred on a train in Spain. Enough.

“Let’s Get it On”

This Cowboy don't get it

2006-01-23T17:47:00.000-08:00

The President of Iran has said many peculiar and scary things recently. The World "Community" is wrangling behind closed doors, as well as publicly through the media, about Iran's nuclear programs. As a Bush supporter, and a supporter of the war in Iraq and the GWOT, I won't even waste my miniscule bandwidth on whether their nuclear ambitions truly ARE peaceful or actually nefarious as many would have us believe now...I leave that to the experts in such matters.

I want to take a Christian time out here and look at the Iran "crisis" in a purely practical sense.

A novice in Christianity is aware, via the Old Testament, of the countless tribulations of the Jews; God's chosen people. We know of their persecution throughout ancient history. We know of Moses, of the Pharoah, of the splitting of the Red Sea (even if only from the movie).

We know of the Holocaust; of millions of Jews being killed in death camps at the hands of Hitler. We know of the suicide bombings and killing of civilians in crowded markets and on buses; people just minding their own business trying to live their lives.

We know less of the flip side of these stories of course; of any horrors that may have been begotten on ancient egyptians at the hands of the Jews. We know little of the merciless butchery and slaughter the Jews may have brought upon the German people. We hear the Palestinians have suffered horribly at the hands of the Jews, but I am confused by just what "suffering" means in this context.

Is it the physical presence of Jews in Palestine territory? Is it torture and abuse of innocent citizens at the hands of the Jews? Is it just because they are JEWS? Is it really Palestine territory? What is it exactly with the Jews and the Palestinians that goes across ALL of our problems today with the Muslim world? And this is not meant to suggest the Palestinians aren't living under terrible circumstances...but blowing themselves and each other up to make a point is, well, rather counter productive in my naive opinion.

Osama and his merry band attribute the war with the West to our support of the Jews. Iran, Syria, and the rest of the regions that are increasing their hostile positions toward us; is this ALSO attributed to our relationship with the Jews? Though no historian, I see little benefit to blaming a regional conflict for all the hostilities we face on this earth. And, as a Christian, I am saddened that the birthplace of my savior would be in the crosshairs of nuclear missiles to make a minor point. Yes, you heard me...minor point.

The Iranian President is beginning to suggest that these are the end times; the final battle between the Muslims and the Jews (and ostensibly the rest of the non-believers). Now, while I have read (or given it my best shot) the Torah Scrolls, the Bible, AND the Koran and am aware that each of these has much coverage of an apocalyptic event, I am not sure I get how a few nukes from Iran that will create the mushroom cloud that WAS Isreal is going to facilitate this foretold event.

I don't anticipate America or other Western Civilizations tucking tail and running over such an event. If we did, I doubt we would commit mass suicide and wipe the earth clean of ourselves when we got back home. In fact, I would suggest the response would be more horrible than I want to imagine...but I suspect there will still be Muslims, Jews, and Christians standing when the cloud settles. And where will that leave things exactly? The Iranian President's end times perhaps, along with many millions of others. And to what end? To make a point? Whatever word you use to refer to God, I don't think this is what he has in mind.

Nope...this Cowboy just don't get it.

Coming Home

2006-01-22T11:33:00.000-08:00

Having spent the past several months absorbed in a very important project, I realized I had lost my way a bit in the point and purpose of this little clubhouse. I think I'm the only one here now, but I hope to pick up the pace a bit.

At my other home, much has been done to develop and refine the discussion about the war in Iraq, our soldiers and their families, and the many new Iraqi friends we are making on the streets there, and around the world. Though you wouldn't know it by reports in the media, we ARE winning, and we can honorably complete the mission, bring our young men and women home with dignity and honor, and leave behind a young, anxious, and forward looking democracy.

I respect the work of NoEndButVictory.com, will continue to support our efforts there, and will bring tidbits here as they seem appropriate.

I'm glad to be back home again.

Here we go again

2005-11-29T11:37:00.000-08:00

USA Today is carrying this story about the US Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in the fight over the constitutionality of a hard-fought, and recently enacted law requiring parental notification in cases where unemancipated teens are seeking abortions.

This is personal for me. As a member of a very prominent Non-Custodial Father's coalition in NH, I was heavily engaged with the NH legislature and the Governor, to see this law through committee and to the floor for a vote. It was hard fought, bitter and nasty at times, but worth every minute of the long drawn out process.

I was divorced in NH, and through the hostile-to-fathers family law travesty, er I mean, legal system, I lost contact with my 4 children for several years. After sometimes painful and ultimately joyous reconciliations, I have been blessed with becoming the proud grandfather of 3 beautiful babies. My wife now, having had 5 of her own children has been blessed with 3 of her own grandchildren...the ultimate yours, mine, and ours story.

One of my daughters considered abortion as part of the emotional phases any young woman goes through when confronted with the knowledge that she has become pregnant. One of my wife's daughters also made this consideration. Thankfully, in both cases we were able to participate in the discussion; able to provide support and reassurance, and a little guidance. We were able to talk through some of the fears that a young woman can convince herself will become reality when no one is there to help her see the upside, the positive, the hopefulness that can be found if she works hard enough to seek it.

In the absence of those discussions, it becomes decidedly easier to see the downside. Easier to convince yourself the world is ending, the sky is falling, and life is about to cease. There is a reason parents are responsible for children until they reach a certain age. However much we may be resisted as authority figures, or "fuddy duddies", or out of touch, we are still needed to bring reason, wisdom, and a little insight about what the future MAY bring to their children's lives.

The liberal factions of this country, along with their media constituents, continue to put up the argument that

Women are going to get abortions no matter what, whether it's legal or illegal, whether they're 13 or whether they're 50. ... Any limitations put on it is heading backward in time,

and this has successfully scared away state legislatures fearing lost votes. Sadly, seekers of votes don't get much exposure to the individual stories like mine and so many others, leaving them able to sleep at night with the decisions they make on the floor of the House or Senate.

This issue is just as much about Parental Rights as it is about abortion rights. The media is only focusing on the abortion side of this. The parent gets the back seat once again.

Interestingly enough, if you have the courage and the patience to read through the now-infamous Senate bill (S1042) that drew so much media attention because of the 79-19 vote asking the President for regular status reports on the war, you'll find some very interesting amendments. These amendments contributed to significant delay of its ultimate passage, and they dealt with Parental Notification rules regarding abortions of unemancipated daughters of GI's deployed overseas.

I find it interesting that the passage of Parental notification rules can slip through under the media radar, yet tiny little New Hampshire can splash all the media fronts over the same issue...maybe it's because they're rooting for its defeat in New Hampshire while they are satisfied with its existence in US law if the cost of that is a little more anti President/anti Iraq war fodder for future sales and advertising revenue.

No End But Victory

2005-11-16T06:15:00.000-08:00

This is from the Founder of "No End But Victory", a movement I have just joined and plan to fully commit my time and energy to. To whomever reads this little blog of mine, AND wants to engage in this (not jump in and troll, throw red herrings, or otherwise disrupt something we feel very strongly about) PLEASE sign up, join in, spread the word, and give something back.

Josh Trevino writes:

My name is Josh Trevino. I founded Tacitus.org, co-founded Redstate.org, wrote speeches for the George W. Bush Administration, and now work at a small think tank in California. So, I know a bit of what I speak below. This is a long e-mail -- but it needs to be. Please bear with it till the end.

As you know, the calls for a cut-and-run from Iraq are growing stronger. On this very day, the Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate have duelling amendments before that body which each, in their own way, fuel the political impulse to abandon Iraq to the murderous elements that would destroy it.

Within living memory, we have seen what happens when America abandons its national commitments, and deserts the brave people who stood tall and believed its promises. The faint-hearted and the wavering painted our commitment to the people of Indochina as a cause in itself of the bloodshed and grief there -- and then stood mute when they achieved their objective, forced America's retreat, and years of genocide followed in its wake.

A generation later, they're trying to do the same in Iraq. For the sake of an Iraqi people only now grasping the responsibilities, perils, and blessings of liberty, we cannot let them force America to shrink from the awesome responsibility it has shouldered. For the sake of American honor -- and those who have died in this cause -- we cannot repeat the mistakes of 1991, when the cost of our reluctance was counted in Kurdish and Shi'a dead.

This is not a partisan issue. This is not a left- or right-wing issue. This is an American and Iraqi issue, and all men of good faith must now come together to remind our leadership that whatever our politics, and whatever we thought of the decision to go to war, there can be only one end:

Victory.

The anti-war, cut-and-run crowd, which fears not defeat, nor dishonor, nor an Iraq under the terrorist heel, is well-organized. Its online haunts are well-known enough: Daily Kos, Atrios, and the rest have a massive readership, and they present the appearance of representing a substantial segement of public opinion in the United States.

But we know that this is not so. We know that Americans don't want to retreat: they want to win. And their support for the war varies in direct proportion to their perception that the American political leadership is willing to achieve that. History shows this clearly: the United States Congress turned against the war in Vietnam long before the American people did; support for the 1983 Lebanon intervention collapsed only after the Reagan Administration decided to withdraw; and support for the Somalia intervention was strong until the moment the Clinton Administration elected to retreat.

The President has done an admirable job in holding the line. But both American political parties show signs of capitulation. It's time for us to raise our voices and remind them that all of us, Americans and Iraqis, demand one thing of this war:

NO END BUT VICTORY

To that end, there is a beta site for your perusal here:

http://noendbutvictory.com/

It is my intent that this website serve as a rallying-point for those who want the best possible future for Iraq and America. You are receiving this e-mail for the following reasons:

You are invited to contribute at-will, and under your own terms, to this site.
Your help is solicited in disseminating word of this site.
Your opinion is solicited in constituting a governing board of editors for this site. (I am providing hosting and bandwidth pro-bono, but I do not intend to control the site content on my own.)
If applicable, your assistance in contributing web design skills is appreciated. Mine only go so far.

Thanks for reading through this entire e-mail. Mike Krempasky's pioneering work on sites like confirmthem.com, notspector.com, and rathergate.com proved that issue-driven activist sites can and do work. Please join us in making noendbutvictory.com a similar success story. There is nothing to lose -- and there is the honor and gratitude of posterity to gain.

With respect,

Josh Trevino

joshua@trevino.at

Illegal Immigration: MSM still doesn't get it

2005-10-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

After reading this news update , it occurred to me that our mainstream media friends STILL don't get it when it comes to what should be newsworthy regarding this Illegal Immigration crisis.

Consider that story for a minute, which tells us about the driver of the bus that caught fire and took the lives of 23 elderly people during the evacuation from Houston before hurricane Rita. The driver is an illegal alien from Mexico. He has been charged with negligent homicide in the case. Interestingly his employer, Global Limo Inc., has NOT been charged with "Unlawful Employment of Aliens" as described in Title 8 Chapter 12 Subchapter 2 Part 8 section 1324A of the US Code. And, interestingly, the media hasn't mentioned this, nor do they appear interested in this aspect of the story.

Consider this story which tells of the problems caused by illegal day laborers wreaking havoc on places like Home Depot parking lots. Again, the media portrays this as a story about problems and solutions for the illegals. In this particular story, the solution was for the City of Herndon Virginia to APPROVE a (quote from article):

taxpayer-funded day-labor center--a shelter, trailer, and restrooms--on the edge of town where employers could hire workers each morning in an organized manner. As envisioned, the $170,000 center would also provide training and English classes for the mostly Central American workers, many of them probably illegal aliens.

In none of the Home Depot stories do you hear interviews with any of the employers of these illegals, nor do you see/hear any publication of their names. Picking these folks up in the parking lot and hiring them for day labor is, ahem, illegal. Wouldn't it make sense to get the contractor's vehicles in the video, so we can find and charge these people with violating US Code? The media has no problem doing this sort of thing to celebrities, politicians, etc. Why not employers of illegals?

Just last week, Sen. Hutchison from Texas was reported to be introducing legislation to address the immigration issue. [note: you must register with Dallas News to see that one..sorry] but the text of that bill is here . Further, another Texas politician, Congressman McCaul was recently assigned the Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommitte on Investigations and vowed during a radio interview that HE was going to fix immigration with a bill of his own...again, like Sen. Hutchison's, focused on presence at the border. Great! But when are we going to hear about going after the employers?

Time and time again, the media coverage focuses on the illegals themselves. Their plight. What they must endure to get here (emphasis on) ILLEGALLY!. I have not heard one major MSM release about an employer getting charged, jailed, etc. In fact, a recent Austin story about illegal day laborers near a Home Depot here focused on how they were just trying to make an "honest living". I find the irony of that statement too rich for words. Sorry, if they are illegal, it ain't an honest day's work. Period.

I am ALL for people coming here to find a better life. I am fed up with feeding, housing, clothing, and providing medical, dental, and vision care for them while getting nothing in return. Attaining legal status allows for some of their income to go back into the kitty for the Federal, State, and Local coffers...maybe even a little kickback into the Social Security and Medicare funds, hmm?

It is time for our legislators AND media outlets to start looking at the other half of the story; the employers. I'm all for tightening the borders, but while our political heroes spend eternity debating the new legislation, how about we enforce the existing legislation? Why can't we punish the Global Limos of the world, and spread it far and wide over the TV, Newspapers, and Internet?

A dilemma in Conservatism

2005-10-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

You'll need to sign up with the Austin American Statesman to read this article, but if you want to take my word for it, there was a vote on May 7 of this year in Austin where 66,000 voters turned out to approve a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.

Now, on its face, this seems fine...and certainly in keeping with the trend in recent years to PC smokers into the shadows.

Where the Conservatism dilemma rears its ugly head for me is here , where the ban is now being challenged in court 6 months later. It would appear that, since 52% of votes were cast in favor of the ban, no judge should be able to overturn the will of the voters; this is what we true conservatives might describe as judicial activism or legislating from the bench. I abhor this practice from judges; have in fact been a victim of it in my personal life. My problem in this particular case is that only 16 % of registered voters turned out to cast their ballots regarding this ban in the first place(again, taken from the Statesman article above).

We can be sure of one thing as citizens; if we are part of a movement to enact legislation, we are most assuredly going to be there to cast our votes when the ballot is presented to us. What seems to be missing in this smoking ban story, and in the next 2 sets of elections, is whether we are doing an adequate job of bringing everyone who WASN'T involved in the movement out to the polls. A lesson we should hold close to us as the 06 & 08 fights start to unfold is that we better make sure we get everyone to the polls, not just the activists & the blogging faithful.

I smoke. I am banned from doing so because 52 % of 16% of the Austin registered voters has spoken and told me I can't. I don't want this judge to overturn the ban because that would be legislating from the bench (something I am vehemently against), even though I would personally benefit from it. I plan to remember EVERYTHING I am forced to do because of active, vocal minorities come these next 2 elections. I hope ALL of my fellow conservatives do as well.

The Lowest Common Denominator

2005-09-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

Regarding the two hurricanes over the Gulf coast recently, whatever I didn't see directly or experience pesonally I could only imagine. I was forced to rely on the eyes and ears of others to fill in the blanks for me. This simple truth, as I think about it, extends to all of my life experiences; to all of yours as well.

I live between Austin and Houston, and am intimately familiar with the reality on the ground of the evacuation that unfolded through my town and within my commute to and from work in advance of Rita. Since I don't live on the coast, I don't know what it was actually like for them to go through their evacuation experience(s) because I WASN'T THERE. I wasn't in New Orleans...wasn't in Mississippi...wasn't in Alabama for Katrina either.

Sadly, my only means of getting information was and continues to be the media.

This story from the LA Times [thanks to Drudge] tells us that our media may not be doing so well (I know, I'm shocked too), and it got me thinking.

I was fortunate enough to have my thinking interrupted this morning over coffee when I read Leon's "Victory at All Costs" post (excellent job by the way, Leon). He is right of course, and this one sentence from Leon sums up the point I want to make here:

"There is a certain segement of the American population - a segment that sadly determines most elections, that is impressed by victory and successful action, no matter what that action might be."

Leon's apt description can be superimposed over the whole of the American media. While it is popular for the right to cry foul over CBS or CNN, it is just as right for the left to cry foul over Rush or Hannity. It's the game we're in. The crux of the problem is with the beast itself; the nature of the media is to fill in our blanks, and they have done so in a manner that is ruining our basic intelligence. Long lost in our society is good old common sense; it has been replaced with images and sounds and pretty lights and fancy bells and whistles.

I assert here that the media (through our spongy little mush minds) is waging a "War on Intelligence". Vietnam, Watergate, Read My Lips, Monica, Bush Lied; all intended to tear down something or someone rather than just filling in our blanks. The list is shamefully much longer than this, but you get the point. We are losing the war on intelligence, and we have allowed the media to do our thinking for us. Why would anyone be surprised that the national dialog has become beteen us and media outlets instead of between us and our representatives?

The behavior of the media has set the national agenda; has created the list of talking points from our political heroes; has set the standard of acceptable and unacceptable behavior for them. When Senator Landrieu threatened to punch the President because of how poorly he responded to Katrina, the media helped us believe she was justified because they had already told us he had done poorly . Nothing followed in the media to indicate she had been charged with threatening the President of the US (a felony).

I could go on. There's Rather-gate. There's the mourning mom who has become a parody. There's plenty to pick at. If we don't want another Vietnam...if we want our soldiers to finish the job and come home AFTER success, if we want to make our politicians really do what WE want instead of making sure they don't do what the media DOESN'T want, I suggest we address the lowest(pun expressly intended) common denominator; the media.

The victory Leon is describing is going to come at the cost of making the media accountable. It's going to come by we, the consumer, making them accountable. It's going to come when we not only realize what we've done to ourselves, but when we realize we are the only ones that can undo it. Since we can't amend the 1st amendment, how bout we start pulling broadcast licenses for all the media junk that is shrill and untrue? How about we let the private sector, through the advertising business, drop all outlets who engage in the shrill agenda reporting they currently engage in? How about we make them require paid subscriptions (or place them ONLY on pay per view) when they lie or embellish or in any way knowingly mislead? Worth a moment of thought, anyway.

Rita: The day BEFORE

2005-09-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about waiting until after Rita struck to begin what I'm sure will be an endless stream of comparisons between her and Katrina. I decided not to wait after seeing this post on Michelle Malkin's blog this morning.

As I enter this, I am awaiting Rita's arrival. I live in the latest storm tracker forecast's direct path...just east-south east of Austin, TX. I have been inundated with all Rita, all the time on tv, the radio, in the printed media. I have seen (and joined) the masses at the local Wal-Marts around the Capitol City. I have bought the gas, stocked the shelves, drawn and stored the extra water. I am as prepared and apprised as I can possibly be. I ask myself this; what the hell was it like in New Orleans before Katrina? Could it REALLY be that George Bush (who hasn't come to Texas as far as I know, unless it was to check his flashlight and battery supply at the ranch) is already at fault if anyone dies or doesn't evacuate the affected area?

My Governor, my Mayor(s), and my community radio stations have gone out of their way to communicate, lead, plan, and organize. School buses are already OUT of the forecasted areas, and were loaded with local citizens who couldn't get out on their own.

I accept that Katrina is fresh enough that Texas was able to immediately apply the lessons learned, but I don't see any federal troops here. I don't see any military helicopters. AND, I don't see ANY lootings, shootings, or rapes going on with the folks who opted not to evacuate. Why is that, I wonder? We shall see, I suppose, in the immediate aftermath. For now, I am living first hand everything right about disaster planning, while a few short weeks ago I witnessed everything wrong in New Orleans. From my vantage point, all around me I see continued proof that this is a state matter, and Louisiana failed its people while Texas has not.

Goodbye, Bill

2005-09-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Since this is a personal place of mine as well as my political rant clubhouse, I digress for a sentence or two in honor of a personal loss.

Bill was my sister in-law's recently estranged boyfriend. He was a good man; a good and loving father. He was dutiful and diligent to his children and all but sold his soul to provide for and support them, in spite of the evil relationships that endured between himself and his ex-wives.

Until recently, Bill was strong, faithful, and responsible to himself and the loved ones that surrounded him. Bill lost his way. He faltered, and ultimately fell to his own shattered soul's hand. We loved you Bill. I will miss you. I'm sorry none of us could pull you back from the fog.

In memoriam: Bill; 19 September 2005; day after b'day 45.

Yabbut: Katrina remembered

2005-09-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

An old friend taught me the word "YABBUT" many years ago, and defined it as follows:

"The Human's innate desire to always be right"

In the wake of the "storm of the century", I have been repeatedly reminded of this phrase; tirelessly overwhelmed with its implications in this time of human suffering and national (read political) crisis.

At the outset here, let me give my own condolences and sorrow for the loss of life and property in the gulf coast. I can't begin to appreciate what the citizens have had to endure and continue to endure. I can say with certainty that, given it's southern location, the sense of community and brother and sister helping brother and sister has been immense, and consistent with our traditions of pulling together in the greatest times of need. If you, as a non-southerner are offended by that...too bad. Having lived many years in the north, I can factually say the sense of community differs dramatically beween these two regions of the country, so get over it.

The theme of this post is intended to deal with everything BUT the specific issues on the ground for people in the region. I was very unfortunate to be locked up in a hotel room in the first days after the storm, with CNN as the only news outlet available, and if you hate Bush this was a media coup d'etat. If you happen to like Bush, this was worse than a root canal without novocaine. I witnessed a media outlet take control of driving the national conversation...complete with ONLY the "it's Bush's fault" voices getting airtime. It was disgusting, but expected from the media...with one exception...

When the media's Bush-bashing creates policy we have a problem. Whatever your opinion, whoever you support, whenever you politicize a horrific event, we can all agree to one truth; we have and are entitled to our own perspective(s). Given that fundamental truth, consider the result of the last few weeks of events. Just about everyone knows there was a hurricane and just about everyone knows there were many lives lost and many places damaged or destroyed. The media has steered the focus to New Orleans...they will quickly point out that Alabama and Mississippi were affected and will just as quickly do the Yabbut thing...yabbut, look at new Orleans! Look at what Bush DIDN'T do! Look at how many people died to prove he is incompetent! Watch us and only us for all the gory details!

I quote from a decreasingly influential document in our country; the US Constitution:

Article 10 of the Amendments to the Constitution states this:

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

CNN isn't bringing this up; it doesn't sell ad space. The Washington Post, NY Times, LA Times, etc aren't bringing this up; it doesn't increase readership. No one, anywhere, has played out for the viewing or listening or reading audience what WOULD have happened if Bush had tried to PREVENT this catastrophe; he would be or (according to the Constitution) should have been arrested, tried, and impeached!

I will bite the bullet and play this out for my reading audience(however small it may be). Imagine this scenario:

Bush sees the weather report, sees the storm intensifying, sees it bearing down on New Orleans. He calls out the National Guard, and INVADES New Orleans, physically removing her citizens against their will from their homes and places of employment. All "prisoners" are forced into evacuation shelters such as the Superdome, Astrodome, or where ever else they would be placed. Wait. These places are in other states...oh no! Bush's storm troopers will have to invade these other states and seize control of them in order to execute his order to remove and displace the citizens. Now, realistically NO ONE would have accepted this from this or any other President...but you Bush haters would say...

Yabbut...he coulda done more, he shoulda done more...it's his fault...he's a racist...etc, blah blah blah

Another scenario for you:

Bush sees the weather report, sees the storm intensifying, sees it bearing down on New Orleans. He calls the Mayor and suggests he evacuate (oh wait...he did that).
The mayor says he is working on that (oh wait, he did tell the President that). He calls the Governor and asks what the Feds can do to help (oh wait...he did that). The Governor says everything is under control...but she'll get back to him as things unfold (oh wait, she said that).

And the storm hits, and people don't leave, and they aren't forced to leave by the people whom the Constitution assigned responsibility to for protecting its citizens. And people died unnecessarily, and media outlets have projected blame where it can not legally be placed, and the media consuming public gets on the "it's Bush's fault" bandwagon like the good sheep they are, and we will take money we don't have to pay for everything out of pure guilt and political opportunism...and another hurricane will hit somewhere else, and more people will suffer, and we will continue to rise to the moment of hysteria, like the good sheep we are. And we will elect new politicians, and enable their "in the name of getting or keeping power" self-importance addictions, and we will continue to forget the most fundamental of points; the Constitution.

We wanted to be a collection of states, each with our own basic independence and freedom to live as we chose within our states' borders and come together as one nation for the fundamental COLLECTIVE needs we would ALL share...

Read the Preamble gain:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The state of Lousiana and all its layers of government are SOLELY to blame. The Governor to the Mayor, and the Legislature for spending money on everything BUT the levee system. They are assigned all these responsibilities by the Constitution of the US AND their own state...they failed, people died, property destroyed...end of story.

I am ashamed of the media. I am ashamed of opportunistic politicians. I am ashamed of the President I strongly support that he would forfeit his political soul to quiet the screaming masses who are dancing to the media's yabbut claims that he should have done something before the storm(even though he couldn't have done anything legally) so he must now spend money to pay for everything after the storm(that isn't his money to give). Insurance companies, private donations, all manner of volunteerism; not the big government that can't get out of its own way. Check back in 6 months, and I'll review for you all the media potshots about what else is done wrong; wrong Czar; wrong Contractors; wrong epa law relaxations; wrong areas for minority businesses; and on and on. Stay tuned.

At last, I am a minority

2005-08-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

According to this article I can finally relax. I am no longer the reason for all the woes of my fellow Americans who happen to be non-white. As a minority, I can now look forward to being coddled, patronized, pacified, and protected from the evils of discrimination by the majority.

I can be given incentives, grants, forgiveable loans, and can be protected by the ACLU from political incorrectness. I can be promised the moon by Liberals everywhere, and I can demand from them all the goods and services I want lest I threaten to vote for the "evil" republicans. I can be assured that my native language will be available to me in my childrens' schools and that it will be available to me on all manner of labels and packages; street signs and billboards, and that wherever I go, my whiteness must be finally accepted, not villified, as part of the big melting-pot called America.

I have found nirvana.

At the risk of being called a racist...

2005-08-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

I must say up front that I am sick and tired of minority pandering. As a Texan, I am (for the near term) considered in the majority because of my gender(male) and my skin color(white). I pay taxes as a homeowner and to the Feds as an employee of a real company who pays me by regular check (not under the table). I am not on assistance. I am also a legitimate Citizen of the United States, complete with a Social Security number and a Passport issued by the US Government. Because of these tidbits of demographic information, the Government is not interested in me, nor are my Federal, State, and Local Political Heroes. You see, they aren't looking for my vote; they know SOME of them will get my vote because it is my duty as an American Citizen. And when I vote, I'll vote my conscience for what I HOPE they'll do in my stead at their little boys & girls club meetings they attend pretending to speak for me, because it is my responsibility as a fellow American.

Before us today is an article in the Dallas News that discusses an issue becoming more and more prevalent here in Texas, and across the country. Today, we are concerned that there are school campuses "where at least half of the students have been in limited English proficiency programs", and that the students on these campuses deserve, no have a right (financially supported by me: Joe-white-english- speaking-american-citizen) to School Principals being required "to learn the language spoken by the majority of students."

Am I missing something here, or have our political heroes lost their minds by having a willingness to fire highly trained, deeply qualified, richly experienced school Administrators unless they learn to speak the language of the non-English speaking students, who in many cases are here illegally? What are we doing to ourselves in this country today?

I am NOT anti-hispanic. Nor, am I against any other person of any other cultural background. I AM against de-Americanizing my self and my country in the name of cultural diversity and political correctness. I am ESPECIALLY against this new PC movement when it is for the benefit of people here llegally, and I am ADAMANTLY against this when it is solely driven by those trying to garner votes.

As an American, I vote because it is my right, my duty, and my obligation. I vote in hopes of finding that special someone that will truly represent ME, and stand for the things I believe in. The non-assimilated among us vote (again, illegally in many cases) for who will give them the most stuff. That is what we have bought by not voting out every Political Hero that ignores the illegal immigration problem; that is the price we continue to pay for not being proud, anymore, of our country and our leaders, and our people.

Subtle Judicial Activism

2005-07-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

A sentence was handed down today in the case of Ahmed Ressam who was convicted of plotting the LA International Airport bombing on the eve of the millenium. Read here an article from the Seattle Post citing the Honorable U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour's remarks during the reading of the sentence.

As much as I liked his resolve about America and where we stand regarding terrorism, it's not lost on me the number of subtle digs at Gitmo, and other "enemy combatant" confinement centers we manage around the world. Now, to me this is subtle activism. Being a conservative, I'm sure my lefty friends would disagree, citing that he is right right right to be firm on terrorism without abandoning the Constitution. I, for one, don't care about applying OUR Constitution to non-citizens, but that attitude dismays my lefty pals.

To be fair, I offer this as a contrast. During the sentencing of Robert Reid (aka shoebomber), Judge William Young equally stood firm on where we, as a country, stand on terrorism. So if you want to say Judge Young's comments are equally subtle Judicial Activism go ahead...you won't convince me though.

See, the difference is we have Judge Young, on the one hand, who hammers a terrorist and tells him he cannot win against us and we don't fear him, and God Bless America. Meanwhile, on the other hand we have Judge Coughenour saying we stand firm on terrorism and going on to use his 5 minutes of fame to speak out against a policy the Libs are all fired up against.

Is it just me? Judges need to apply the law in the cases before them. They have earned the right I suppose to add editorial comment to perps (terrorists in these cases) during the delivery of the sentence. Do they also have the right to apply this editorial comment against aspects of the very Government whose laws they have sworn to protect and defend?

"You started it": the rationale of the enemy

2005-07-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

If you read the next to the last paragraph of this story , you understand a major piece of the problem with the war on terror.

If you think back to how you felt the morning of 9/11, how you were fixed to the tv or radio, how you were dragged through the emotional roller coaster ride of grief, and sadness, and horror, and anger, and resignation as I was, then you can admit that you faced a similar roller coaster ride when the London attacks of 7/7 were plastered across those same mediums.

And, like the days immediately after 9/11 here, when we were thinking about revenge and retribution and justice, it is a fair bet that the Brits are experiencing this now, as I write this diary entry, or will in the not-too-distant future.

Though some have forgotten, I and many fellow Americans, have not. I have not forgotten the complete void of Arab voices rejecting those horrible atrocities that day. I have not forgotten the myriad of media outlets suggesting this was, in some twisted way, our fault. I have not forgotten that voices across the world started popping up in rejoice over the Infidel Pig getting what it deserved. I have not forgotten the images of Palestinians dancing in the streets. I have not forgotten the images of our police and firefighters crying, holding dead children, sitting exhausted and covered in soot and debris with blank stares of horror and grief and shock and disbelief. SOME of us have not forgotten.

I knew as soon as I saw the horrible stories about London that the time would be short before these same types of images and emotions would surface again. I knew we could expect a period of respect and remembrance and support followed quickly by the stories of complicity, and if you look hard enough, the stories of celebration and joy among certain circles of our human population.

When I read that Iran says this is our fault, or the Brit's fault, or that America is the Father and Israel the Mother of al Quaeda, I am not left disappointed. When I read that Arabs and Muslims are fearful of retribution, I am skeptical. I'm afraid my cynicism and skepticism after these long years of the war on terror have pushed me in the direction of believing this is merely a "first media propaganda strike" to try and keep the non Arab Muslims from losing whatever sympathy they might have had remaining for their so-called plight and victim status. When I think about the contrast between all the Arab outcry NOW, after 7/7, and the total lack of it after 9/11, I am outright stupefied. What is different? What has changed?

The enemy consistently justifies it's action with a "you started it" mentality, accusing us of slaughtering their innocent civilians; emphasis on women and children. Yet these same people are NOT denouncing Arab Muslims such as Zarqawi, for doing the same thing...TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE and to themselves with their vests tightly strapped on them in the name of 70 virgins and martyrdom. This just does not add up.

The rationale of our enemy is the notion that we are horrible, godless barbarians that repress repress repress, and that we have no respect for human dignity. The actions of the terrorists and the lack of Arab muslime response and denunciation to those acts tells the tale for me of the nature of the enemy we face.

The bottom line is this: Whatever our enemies choose as justification for their actions, be it Bin Laden or Zarqawi, or Ayatollah what's-his-name, or closer to home with Michael Moore and George Soros, we cannot afford to forget how far back this all really goes, and what the stakes are for both sides. Whatever some may say about America and what we stand for, we can ill afford to let them make anyone believe they are helpless victims. They are alive and well and willing to kill as many of their own as necessary to win. Until our collective will (world wide) is to kill as many of them as necessary, we will continue in a draw of sorts...winning some, losing some, and the innocents will continue to bleed.

We aren't going to pull all Israelis out of Israel and put them in a new land, we aren't going to just load up and pull our troops out of all foreign lands, and we aren't going to allow everyone outside our borders to fend for themselves. So, we either fight to win, or both sides are going to see thousands and thousands die in a tit-for-tat, "you started it so I'm going to kill your Mother and little sister to make you feel bad about it" war until one of us runs out of fighters.

Death by Political Correctness

2005-02-24T09:16:00.000-08:00

Whenever they can, the Political Correctness Police take on issues in the name of protecting "victims". Fine. It's not nice to call someone fat, just because they weigh 400 pounds. Fine. It's not nice to call a woman a babe, even if she's the most beautiful creature on earth. Fine. It's not nice to call an African American black, even if that is their skin color.

But to say it's not nice to call a person a Southerner, even though they're from the South, is killing a section of our population and heritage. It's suggested here that Confederate images, the honoring of members of the Confederacy, and favorable represenations and reflections about "all things Southern" should stop, and this is based on the premise that the only thing you can say about that portion of our history and heritage is that they engaged in slavery.

The Southern heritage needs to stop being defined only through slavery. There is much to celebrate about being Southern, and much to be proud of from our history. And much to be learned by them Damn Yankees about how to live, how to treat each other, and what loyalty and respect of their families, and communities, and fellow Damn Yankees means.

And them Damn Yankees could use a little God Fearin' in their Godless, uppity lives, too!

Insane Propensity for Taxation of "Sin"

2005-02-24T07:33:00.000-08:00

I know this is just my local Texas complaint, but I thought it worth putting here. The discrimination against smokers aside, does anyone out there share my disgust with our political heroes taxing sin because they know there will be "holier than thou" support from the majority of people?

I submitted a "Letter to the Editor" that I'll paste here for context, but I am getting tired of the logic that says we'll increase revenue by adding new tax burdens on people, yet the tax burden is inherently designed to reduce the bad behavior that would purportedly generate the revenue in the first place.

"On the cigarette tax increase:

When our political heroes discuss increasing the cigarette tax, they tell THEMSELVES they will help reduce smoking related illness and curb the smoking desires of our innocent children. They tell US they will generate badly needed revenue. Which is it? If smoking goes down, the revenue increase they promise us will fall short of target.

I have an idea they'll never implement. Add an equivalent tax for any non-smoker that uses a non-smoking bar, restaurant, or public establishment subject to taxation. Levy a surcharge for every drink, or meal, or purchase payable to the State. There's one that will guarantee the target revenue numbers. In fact, the revenue will actually increase over time as the number of places in Austin and across Texas prohibiting smoking increases."

Because I smoke...

2005-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

I forced myself to hold off on commenting about this for a self-imposed 24 hour cooling-off period. I wanted to make sure I didn't give the wrong context...

The easy response from a smoker would be along the lines of "here we go again with another anti-smoking fanatical attack", and the always famous "woe is me I'm a victim of wild-eyed activist health nuts", blah blah...but this to me isn't even the point anymore.

There is an infrequently adhered to, and often times overtly trampled little "passage" in the US Constitution (that would be Article 14) that says "nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;". This is a little more well known, but the line that most interests me in these smoking issues is the somewhat less famous "nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

What troubles me most about these 4 employees is that the anti-smoking crowd is jubilant at the notion that another line has been drawn in the sand vis a vis smoking, and their little pet cause is all the more recognized. They don't care about these folks losing their jobs, their livelihoods, the ability to pay their bills and support their families...they are only too happy to justify themselves through the veil of "they should quit smoking if they want their jobs".

Ok, then in the interest of fair play, let's make sure Article 14 is fully honored. Attention all US Citizens: If you are fat, African American, Female, drink coffee, OR smoke, you can be fired from your job or prevented from getting one unless you eliminate your [fill in the blank] risk factors that cost us more in insurance premiums.

How does one stop being a Woman, or an African American? According to some folks you can't even control being fat.

If you believe in the Constitution, which is an admittedly rapidly decreasing number of folks out there, you would think such things could never happen in our society. But alas, they are, and appear destined to only get worse.

Let me get this straight...

2005-01-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

You are allowed to burn the Flag, tear down the 10 Commandments from public display, kill unborn babies, marry someone of the same sex, and call your President the modern day Hitler, but God forbid you do something you have every legal right to do on your own time if your boss doesn't approve.

Hello? Anyone out there? Did I miss the bus to sanity? Is this some twisted form of the Twilight Zone we're living in?

A Communist likens Bush to Hitler, and...

2005-01-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

implies that we Red Blooded Americans are as naive and gullible as Germany was when they elected Hitler. This from a pimp that married one of the greatest traitors of our time...

Not just on the border...

2005-01-25T09:13:00.000-08:00

The media always makes this sound like a California/Arizona/New Mexico/Texas issue, but it's just NOT!

Hick Eloquence

2005-01-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

Read all the fancy wordsmithing you want at the hoity toity Wall Street Journal or Washington Post you can take. Then, ask one of us hayseeds how to eloquently and succinctly describe a national problem, and how to go about fixing it!

We get the point about costs. Why don't the elites?

2005-01-21T08:12:00.000-08:00

The deep South gets the point of costly inaugurations. How is it that the Blue Staters think it's too much when Dubya spends it but not enough when they do?

Some of us wanna believe...

2005-01-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

Dubya's vision for us, at least in HIS last 4 years with us, is reasonable and lofty and should be free from impunity. Our poor lost souls on the left will resist these things nonetheless. I am anxious to see how they formulate their anti-Dubya agenda without making themselves sound like they prefer tyranny over liberty...