Update from the Heartland
No.331
7.4.08 – 13.4.08
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
No.331
7.4.08 – 13.4.08
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
To all,
Grandson Judson James celebrates his first birthday next weekend. I just had to share the creativity and ingenuity of Judson's parents -- Melissa & Tyson. This is the invitation card they produced to recognize the occasion. Needless to say, we are shamelessly proud parents and grandparents. Congratulations, Judson James . . . and many more.
Grandson Judson James celebrates his first birthday next weekend. I just had to share the creativity and ingenuity of Judson's parents -- Melissa & Tyson. This is the invitation card they produced to recognize the occasion. Needless to say, we are shamelessly proud parents and grandparents. Congratulations, Judson James . . . and many more.
Judson James' bEARTHday Announcement
[Judson James 1st Bday card Mod 3.jpg]
MEDAL OF HONOR
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, USN
[Judson James 1st Bday card Mod 3.jpg]
MEDAL OF HONOR
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, USN
On 29.September.2006, as an automatic weapons gunner in Task Unit Ramadi for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Monsoor, 25, made an instantaneous decision to sacrifice his life to save his comrades, when he dove onto a grenade. President Bush honored Mike's parents at a White House ceremony awarding their son the Medal of Honor posthumously. I am reminded of the immortal words of an earlier president.
"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom."
-- Abraham Lincoln - condolence letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixby, 21.November.1864
Lest we forget the heroism of previous generations, I offer this link to a commemorative video, remembering the warriors of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch?fr=yvmtf&v=33876
There is no doubt in my little pea-brain that the mad mullahs of the Islamic Republic of Iran are stimulating Muqtada al-Sadr [141 & sub] and his Mahdi militia to violence in Iraq. This is how the IRI and other state-sponsors of terrorism work . . . they use surrogates, like al-Sadr and Hezbollah’s Sheik Hassan Nasrallah [240 & sub], to do their bidding -- plausible deniability, just like Nixon & his lackeys. In today's political environment, we are impotent to deal with the root cause, so we shall muddle along reacting to attacks rather than eliminated the principal supporter, trainer, stimulator and sponsor of those who bring violence to the World. Many more precious young men and women, in this newest generation of patriots and probably several more behind them, will give their lives in defense of this Grand Republic, because of our lack of cohesion, focus and political will.
The current fiasco surrounding the Olympic Torch Relay in Greece, England, France and now the United States nauseates me. The Olympic Games are sport -- competition, camaraderie, community. I resented and protested Jimmy Carter's boycott decision of the 1980 Olympic Games. Chancellor Adolf Hitler tired to politicize the 1936 Olympic Games; he failed; the World rose above his petty bravado. Jimmy Carter was not up to the challenge. And, the idiocy of the anti-China protesters in supposedly mature, enlightened, Western democracies is an embarrassing blemish. What a sad statement regarding our ability to keep things in proper perspective. Just like the requirement for separation between church and State, so to there should be, must be, separation between sport and politics. I am all in favor of freedom for Tibet, Taiwan and other oppressed people, but using the Olympic Games for such protest is as wrong as the despicable funeral protests of Fred Phelps and his vermin followers. The Olympic Relay is not about China; it is about the majesty of sport and the athletes who work so hard to compete at the international level.
An interesting bit of intelligence regarding the intentions of our good buddy, Hugo Chavez, and his bellicose bravado toward his neighbor [326]:
“Dangerous Liaison: Is Hugo Chavez Friends with FARC?”
by Jens Glüsing
Der Spiegel
Published: 7.April.2008
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,545910,00.html
The article begins, "A spectacular find may prove what many have long suspected. E-mails and other files found on a FARC laptop in the jungles of Ecuador show that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez may have close relations with the terror group." For those who may not recall, FARC = Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Does anyone wish to hazard a guess as to FARC's political objectives? And, why would Chavez be aiding a terrorist group trying to overcome the duly elected government of Columbia? A Castro-Guevara wannabe, Chavez is far from done with his political and violent intrigue in the region.
Another article worthy of debate:
“The Three Revolutions”
by Henry A. Kissinger
Washington Post
Monday, April 7, 2008; Page A17
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W0RH01C486511059C0E3935289AE10
Henry wrote, “The long-predicted national debate about national security policy has yet to occur. Essentially tactical issues have overwhelmed the most important challenge a new administration will confront: how to distill a new international order from three simultaneous revolutions occurring around the globe:
(a) the transformation of the traditional state system of Europe;
(b) the radical Islamist challenge to historic notions of sovereignty; and
(c) the drift of the center of gravity of international affairs from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Indian Oceans.”
Henry poses a series of relevant questions to frame the proper public debate. Any opinions?
An alternative view of the Battle for Iraq . . . worthy of your time:
"Iraq and Its Costs"
by Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham
Wall Street Journal
April 7, 2008; Page A13
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120752308688293493.html?mod=djemEditorialPage
The jury at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, by a 9-2 majority, concluded the judicial examination of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales:
“Diana inquest: William and Harry welcome verdict after jury blames paparazzi and Paul”
by Gordon Rayner and Andrew Pierce
The Telegraph [of London]
Last Updated: 2:09am BST; 09/04/2008 [9.April.2008]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/08/ndiana108.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_08042008
As with so many accidents, a string of related events led to Diana's death, yet the precipitating or catalytic action clearly rests with the paparazzi who pursued the limousine that night; they deserve to be charged with involuntary manslaughter and pay their debt to society, and yet, the French judicial inquiry chose to back away from the criminal conduct of the paparazzi.
We received no comments or contributions from Update no.330.
My very best wishes to all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom."
-- Abraham Lincoln - condolence letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixby, 21.November.1864
Lest we forget the heroism of previous generations, I offer this link to a commemorative video, remembering the warriors of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch?fr=yvmtf&v=33876
There is no doubt in my little pea-brain that the mad mullahs of the Islamic Republic of Iran are stimulating Muqtada al-Sadr [141 & sub] and his Mahdi militia to violence in Iraq. This is how the IRI and other state-sponsors of terrorism work . . . they use surrogates, like al-Sadr and Hezbollah’s Sheik Hassan Nasrallah [240 & sub], to do their bidding -- plausible deniability, just like Nixon & his lackeys. In today's political environment, we are impotent to deal with the root cause, so we shall muddle along reacting to attacks rather than eliminated the principal supporter, trainer, stimulator and sponsor of those who bring violence to the World. Many more precious young men and women, in this newest generation of patriots and probably several more behind them, will give their lives in defense of this Grand Republic, because of our lack of cohesion, focus and political will.
The current fiasco surrounding the Olympic Torch Relay in Greece, England, France and now the United States nauseates me. The Olympic Games are sport -- competition, camaraderie, community. I resented and protested Jimmy Carter's boycott decision of the 1980 Olympic Games. Chancellor Adolf Hitler tired to politicize the 1936 Olympic Games; he failed; the World rose above his petty bravado. Jimmy Carter was not up to the challenge. And, the idiocy of the anti-China protesters in supposedly mature, enlightened, Western democracies is an embarrassing blemish. What a sad statement regarding our ability to keep things in proper perspective. Just like the requirement for separation between church and State, so to there should be, must be, separation between sport and politics. I am all in favor of freedom for Tibet, Taiwan and other oppressed people, but using the Olympic Games for such protest is as wrong as the despicable funeral protests of Fred Phelps and his vermin followers. The Olympic Relay is not about China; it is about the majesty of sport and the athletes who work so hard to compete at the international level.
An interesting bit of intelligence regarding the intentions of our good buddy, Hugo Chavez, and his bellicose bravado toward his neighbor [326]:
“Dangerous Liaison: Is Hugo Chavez Friends with FARC?”
by Jens Glüsing
Der Spiegel
Published: 7.April.2008
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,545910,00.html
The article begins, "A spectacular find may prove what many have long suspected. E-mails and other files found on a FARC laptop in the jungles of Ecuador show that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez may have close relations with the terror group." For those who may not recall, FARC = Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Does anyone wish to hazard a guess as to FARC's political objectives? And, why would Chavez be aiding a terrorist group trying to overcome the duly elected government of Columbia? A Castro-Guevara wannabe, Chavez is far from done with his political and violent intrigue in the region.
Another article worthy of debate:
“The Three Revolutions”
by Henry A. Kissinger
Washington Post
Monday, April 7, 2008; Page A17
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W0RH01C486511059C0E3935289AE10
Henry wrote, “The long-predicted national debate about national security policy has yet to occur. Essentially tactical issues have overwhelmed the most important challenge a new administration will confront: how to distill a new international order from three simultaneous revolutions occurring around the globe:
(a) the transformation of the traditional state system of Europe;
(b) the radical Islamist challenge to historic notions of sovereignty; and
(c) the drift of the center of gravity of international affairs from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Indian Oceans.”
Henry poses a series of relevant questions to frame the proper public debate. Any opinions?
An alternative view of the Battle for Iraq . . . worthy of your time:
"Iraq and Its Costs"
by Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham
Wall Street Journal
April 7, 2008; Page A13
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120752308688293493.html?mod=djemEditorialPage
The jury at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, by a 9-2 majority, concluded the judicial examination of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales:
“Diana inquest: William and Harry welcome verdict after jury blames paparazzi and Paul”
by Gordon Rayner and Andrew Pierce
The Telegraph [of London]
Last Updated: 2:09am BST; 09/04/2008 [9.April.2008]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/08/ndiana108.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_08042008
As with so many accidents, a string of related events led to Diana's death, yet the precipitating or catalytic action clearly rests with the paparazzi who pursued the limousine that night; they deserve to be charged with involuntary manslaughter and pay their debt to society, and yet, the French judicial inquiry chose to back away from the criminal conduct of the paparazzi.
We received no comments or contributions from Update no.330.
My very best wishes to all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
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