Update from the Heartland
No.261
4.12.06 – 10.12.06
To all,Sixty-Five years ago . . . “a date which will live in infamy.” Lest we ever forget!
Erratum:
In last week’s Update [260], I used an ill-advised word in my paragraph on the New York Times disclosure of leaked information from the Iraq Study Group. Leaking information from the open, unclassified portion of the Study Group report does not qualify as treasonous behavior. I may despise leakers and those who facilitate them, but I must not label them as traitors, to do so diminishes my argument. I offer my humble apology to everyone for what amounted to a rash, emotional reaction.
A friend and subscriber announced his son's graduation from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego – top rifle shooter, honor platoon, and a new Private First Class Marine. Senator John McCain’s son graduated in the same class. May God bless them as they enter service to this Grand Republic. Semper Fidelis.
For us wanna-be space travelers, we enjoyed an exceptional week. We saw comparative images from the Mars Global Surveyor of recent flowing liquid, presumably water, on the surface of our neighbor planet. The mounting evidence continues to raise hopes of subsurface liquid water that could contain microbiological material. The photographs are quite intriguing. Adding to the excitement, NASA announced more detailed plans to go back to the moon by 2020 and to establish a permanent manned base on the Moon by 2024; the initiative intended to learn how to safely make the journey to Mars. Then to cap the week of space news, the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-116) lit the candle for a magnificent night launch to rewire the International Space Station (ISS) -- a complex, essential and dangerous mission. The shuttle launches never cease to amaze me. Awesome! Bravo!
The bipartisan Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group (ISG) issued its anticipated report to the President and the public. The contents certainly offer fodder for regurgitative debate regarding the Battle for Iraq. However, the peripheral dialogue bothers me greatly. Politicians of both persuasions seem to have fallen into coherence by using a myriad of words synonymous with defeat. Regardless of our opinions on Iraq, we must face this sad reality. The retrospective of history is premature and likely to change, but the image is sharpening. We may well look back, years from now, to see 22.February.2006, as the turning point in the Battle for Iraq. On that day, al-Qaeda carried out a coordinated, multiple bombing of the Shrine of Imam el Hadi (al-Askariya Shrine AKA the Golden Dome mosque) -- an important Shiite shrine in the predominantly Sunni city of Samarra, Iraq – sparking sectarian violence that has continued to escalate. [220] The precursors were quite evident two years earlier; we chose to ignore them. By not dominating the ground with overwhelming combat power, we allowed the forces tearing at the tattered fabric of Iraqi society to exercise the initiative of offensive operations. The facts on the ground substantiate the success of the Golden Dome Mosque bombing – ignition of decades of Shia resentment toward the Sunni minority as an unavoidable anchor for Allied forces in Iraq. I heard Thomas Friedman of the New York Times hypothesized that the Allied first choice for Iraq is a unified, strong, democratic nation, which is the second choice of the Iraqis. He suggested that their first choice actually comes in three parts. The Kurds want an independent country of Kurdistan. The Shia want a theocratic carbon copy of Iran. And the Sunnis want Saddam Hussein to return to power to bludgeon the non-compliant into submission. Great Britain, the United States, and our few allies are caught in the web of tribal, generational, and religiously fueled animosity and resentment. In this instance, Tom is accurately reflecting the situation of the ground. The question to us remains, do we have the will to win the peace? The ISG says . . . not really.
I am amazed! Bob Gates was recommended unanimously, 24-0, by the Senate Armed Services Committee and confirmed by a 95-2 vote of the Senate. Oddly, Senators Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Jim Bunning of Kentucky -- both Republicans -- voted against Gates, citing his criticism of progress in the Battle for Iraq. Three senators abstained. Bob will assume the role of SecDef circa 18.December.2006.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton tendered his resignation to the President. John was never a popular choice. Initially, I reluctantly favored his confirmation, but turned against his candidacy as the Senate debate played out. [176, 180-185, 191] The President publicly stated he did not want John’s resignation but regrettably accepted it. While John was ambassador to the UN, his public conduct was exemplary, dignified and measured . . . in short, he did a good job . . . so much for proving yourself. I can admit that I was wrong. The country loses an aggressive ambassador. Oh well!
For reasons I know not, news of Mary Cheney's pregnancy flooded the media, and once again, we return to the issues of family, marriage and homosexual rights. For those outside the United States, Mary is the daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, which is the relationship that makes this pregnancy news. As I have written many times, unless or until we seriously hold parents accountable for their performance or the consequences of their actions on society and the public domain, I find little proper rationale for intruding upon adults making informed relationship decisions or raising children as best they can. I would rather encourage homosexual caring and loving parents than abusive heterosexual parents who produce criminals and leeches upon society. So, my advice, let's wish Mary Cheney and her partner our very best wishes as they enjoy their pregnancy, and the birth and the nurturing of their child.
The cause of aviation safety took a drastic and dreadful wrong turn on Friday, 8.December.2006. Brazilian police charged Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino for the crime of "lack(ing) of necessary diligence that is expected and required" of pilots, in the case of the midair collision between a U.S. registered, ExcelAire Embraer Legacy 600 and a Gol Airlines B-737-800 (Flight 1907) -- both relatively new aircraft equipped with sophisticated Traffic and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS). The 29.September.2006 accident killed all 154 passengers and crew on the Gol Airlines flight. The ExcelAire flight landed safely despite serious wing damage. The Brazilians have selectively released / leaked information about the accident; that evidence suggests a controller error. The incredible oddity in this accident appears to be that the TCAS equipment in both aircraft was inoperative or switched off. Set aside the pilot mumbo-jumbo, the impact of criminal charges vice civil liability litigation may seriously chill the participation of pilots in the furtherance of aviation safety investigations. I have seen nothing criminal, as yet. After they were charged, they were released and allowed to return home to the United States with the commitment to return to Brazil if the case goes to trial.
The citizens of the Louisiana 2nd District gave us another low point in American electoral politics by re-electing Representative William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson to Congress. Perhaps we have become so accustomed and comfortable with corrupt, money-grubbing politicians that such negative examples as “Dollar Bill” Jefferson can be knowingly re-elected by a clear majority (57%).
Comments and contributions from Update no.260:
“I humbly disagree with the need for obligated national service. You know, as well as I, that the U.S. military was greatly improved when we went to a volunteer force. The most basic ideal of the founders and the Constitution was that the government was obligated to defend individual people's rights and not the other way 'round. The draft and any other sort of mandatory national service is nothing more than the majority forcing slavery on some minority. For example, the draft was basically old folks, who vote, forcing young folks, who generally didn't vote, to provide the national defense on the cheap, essentially slavery in all but name. It is not fair, it is not in accordance with our founding principles and is not the best way to man our defense. There is a fair market price to hire people to defend us, or provide any of the other "national services" and we should bare that expense.
“Damn, maybe you aren't quite ready to be a true Libertarian after all.”
My reply:
Libertarian, huh. I’m a proud independent, non-partisan. I can find resonance with elements of most political parties, including the Greens for that matter. So, indeed, I am not and will not be a true or faithful Libertarian. That said, I admire some of the essential principles of the Libertarian Party, just not all.
I would vastly prefer an all volunteer military. I see the draft as a choice of last resort. However, and more importantly than all that folderol, there are two critical factors that lead me to conscription.
1. Insufficient troops on the field of battle means those troops in combat will suffer greater casualties – less than overwhelming force – i.e., a generation of Americans will bleed more than would otherwise be necessary, and
2. I am far more interested in winning this damnable war. Given no.1 above, we should have 3-4 times more ground combat troops / units than we do now. If we can fill the ranks with volunteers, all is well and good. However, we need those troops to win this war, and as I said, I am more concerned about winning than I am about any of the dilution of conscription. We must do what we must do to win!
I do not accept the Charlie Rangel notion that paying soldiers more money will gain more recruits. While some in the military chose the profession for economic reasons, I respectfully suggest that most, like Specialist Patrick Daniel Tillman, Jr., USA – 75th Ranger Regiment, may God rest his immortal soul [124] – enlisted because they considered national service their patriotic duty during wartime. Thus, I do not accept the supposition that “the majority (is) forcing slavery on some minority.” Pat Tillman and many of his brethren chose to enlist and serve for a very noble and genuine purpose. Our soldiers deserve our praise and admiration, not our disdain.
. . . with this follow-up:
“Rumor is that RAC is almost sold and that Baron & Bonanza production may cease? What news there?
“BTW, I am all for volunteers for national service and especially for an all-volunteer force except for the most dire national emergency. No matter what a pain in the butt the rag-heads are, they are not really a serious threat to the United States. Compared to WW-II and the cold war they're just an annoyance. There is a fair price to pay someone to volunteer to take the risk of being in the military and all Americans should share in that price via their taxes if we decide we want that level of protection. The draft, or a mandatory national service, is not volunteering and it goes against the basic principles of our founding.”
. . . with my follow-up reply:
The sale of Raytheon Aircraft could be announced any day now. Three investment banking firms made the final cut. Given the sale to money guys, I expect the company to be cut up and downsized even farther; they don’t have much interest in building airplanes – only in making as much money as possible in as short of a time as possible. Whether Pistons meets its demise in the process is beyond our horizon, but the prospect is quite plausible. We shall see.
I respectfully do not agree with your assessment of the threat from Islamofascists. I would say, you are probably correct based on a direct military confrontational threat, but that is not how they have chosen to operate nor is that the principle threat we face. The threat is quite real in terms of social and political erosion both internally and more likely externally as they knock off weaker governments and cultures. The VisiGoths were certainly inconsequential militarily to the Romans, and yet they marched into Rome, burnt the city, raped the women, and slaughtered thousands of men. The Romans were not beaten militarily; they no longer possessed the will to win; they defeated themselves. That is what I fret about in our time.
. . . along with this rebuttal:
“Islam has almost nothing to offer the modern world. They are in the death throes and lashing out in frustration as other societies pass them by. We kill more Americans on the highways than they can possibly kill. I fear our loss of liberty and individual responsibility more than any threat from those rag heads; not that it will effect my remaining life but that the increase in government power and the loss of our personal liberty will leave a much diminished life for following generations.”
. . . and one last comment from me in this thread:
It is easy to judge Islam by the conduct of rabid radicals like Usama bin Ladin, but that is like judging Christianity by the actions of Pope Clement V or Cardinal de Richelieu, in my humble opinion. Islam serves the same purpose for its believers as Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism serve for their believers. If Muslims can attain a more stable state – tolerance and disavowing radical, violent evangelism – Islam can take its proper place among the world’s major religions. We must help them mature as we eliminate the vermin in their midst that threaten us.
A contribution from the United Kingdom:
“You may not be aware that we in UK are embroiled in the debate to renew or not to renew Trident. (That is indeed the question) Although not a supporter of the present incumbent at No 10, I agree we must maintain the ultimate deterrent against a re-emerging USSR and any other wild states that might wish to use a dirty or live weapon against us.
“Even so I see they are proposing to cut the number of boats to three and the number of warheads cut to an undisclosed figure, but we can surmise, as each boat carries 16 plus any 'in use spares.'
“The worry for me would be as you and I know in aviation there are down times when deep maintenance is required and major un-serviceability's occur. One must therefore ask is three boats enough?
“Must confess don't understand your American politics although we do, occasionally, watch CNN on satellite. Maybe I'm watching the wrong channels!”
My response:
I must confess I don’t think we, Americans, understand American politics. If you can filter through all the crap, we can sometimes find a worthwhile topic and content.
I had not heard of the Trident sub question in the UK. I share your concern. It’s the classic . . . in for a penny, in for a pound scenario.
All these murders presumably by Putin’s FSB (KGB) and/or NKVD operatives as well as his progressively more authoritarian rule certainly raises my level of apprehension regarding Russia’s intentions. Add the mixture the rogue states of DPRK and IRI, we have plenty of justification for maintaining such powerful deterrents. I hope the government resolves the question favorably.
. . . with this follow-up:
"Today is the anniversary of the 'day of infamy.' I've seen some TV today, mostly Bush/Blair and some CNN but no mention of the commemoration of Dec 7th. Is it that we have no wish to offend the sensibilities of our former enemies?
"We should always remember those who gave their lives that we might live in peace. Both your countrymen and mine suffered at the hands of the Japanese and I don't believe we should ever forget that fact. The past shapes the future, ignore it at our peril.
"We're told we are putting too much emphasis on WW1 and WW2 in our schools curriculum, turning our children into war worshipers. Nonsense, they need to know the truth, they need to know about the wickedness of extermination, of life in the trenches, of 'acts of infamy' in the Pacific.
"With a remerging Russia and our other friends in DPKR and IRI, with global terrorism seething under and bursting through the nice sunny surface of democracy we must remember and prepare. Remember and Prepare."
. . . and my follow-up:
All news channels in the U.S. showed commemoratives of Pearl Harbor. A number of channels broadcast specials about the remaining survivors . . . most in their 80’s now. Yes, we must always remember those before us who have sacrifices for our freedom.
Interesting comment on education. One of the elements that inspired me to write my “To So Few” novels was the fact that in our children’s history books, the Battle of Britain was relegated to one sentence . . . “The Battle of Britain was fought in the summer of 1940.” We must never forget.
Our first President, George Washington, said, “Being prepared for war is the best way to avoid it.” So it is. And yet, so many people fail to heed that lesson.
Another contribution:
“In the 1st Gulf War, the Coalition went into Iraq with Totally overwhelming forces. Hit hard and fast with everything except nukes. Likely WAY more than perhaps needed. I say good. That's the way to fight a war! Totally and entirely smash the enemy till he just flat no longer exists. Then, if you want, pick up the pieces and try to help those who have suffered collateral damage. 100 hours to subdue the enemy and accomplish (so the story goes anyway), what they had intended to do. Obviously that doesn't wash anymore because we are now back there and have been since what---2003? With no real end in sight yet (good one anyway) -- no matter what everyone says.”
My reply:
We did an incredible job in subduing Saddam’s Iraq. Unfortunately, we had significantly insufficient number of troops to control the ground, and that was an essential requirement to deal with all the aspects of the post-assault consolidation. Instead, we chased mice around the countryside, or perhaps a more appropriate image might by Walt Disney’s animated rendition of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Civil pacification is one thing. Building a democratic system of governance in a nation that has never known democratic processes is NOT a military task. And yet, the nation building political task becomes impossible without realistic and reasonable security and safety for the populace. In that task, the administration grossly underestimated the problems, failed to listen to those voices of dissent or caution, and now we are faced with a chaotic, disintegrating, sectarian, quasi-government that is not likely to stand on its own anytime soon. A direct consequence of insufficient boots on the ground is more good folks will die and the process will take even longer . . . up to the point we cut and run. If the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group conclusions are what the New York Times says they will be, we may well have already passed a viable recovery point. As a reminder for ourselves, World War II lasted 6-14 years depending on markers (millions died, not thousands), and solidifying the peace along with democratic governance took another 10-15 years after the war was done . . . and that was in countries with no violent, sectarian, tribal heritage.
And, this last contribution for this week:
"I agree with you on points, especially voting… as long as one is informed, and serving your country! I do however, disagree with you on others.
"So who is Senator Sam Brownback and why would someone say he isn’t outraged by child abuse? I would think that would be political suicide. It would be like saying you are against Motherhood, the American Flag and Feeding the Starving! Politicians just don’t say things like that unless they are looking for a change of employment. So why would Senator Sam Brownback feel that way? For answers I turned to the internet. After some research, I was even more confused than ever, as I did not find any such information. What I did find however, was information on Sam Brownback, working across party lines, sponsoring and cosponsoring bills protecting children.
"So what’s really going on? I can only guess by what’s going on in my neck of the woods. That is Democrats accusing Republicans of shooting down child protection bills. I saw it time and time again last election. Thousands of commercials were aired on television and ads printed on political flyers claiming that such and such a person (always Republican) voted against a bill that would strengthen our child protection laws. One channel decided to research those claims, and gave them a grade as if they were a classroom assignment. …and they received a BIG FAT D (at best).
"The truth be known, although maybe there was SOME truth behind them, they just weren’t an HONEST depiction of what REALLY happened. The truth is, nearly every Republican voted against that, because the Dems had thrown in a bunch of GARBAGE at the last minute, having absolutely nothing to do with child protection. So GET the Republicans in a “Catch 22”, vote for the bill the way it stands… GREAT!!! Vote against the bill and we can proclaim you are against protecting children… REALLY GREAT!!!
"To me, this is an extreme example of childish behavior. If we are to come together as ONE GREAT NATION, we need to put those childish games behind us!
“If my assumptions are wrong, my apologies. But I still feel we can support Senator Brownback on one position, and disagree with him on another.“The position I would like to agree with him then, is the point I feel strongest about!
“We all have certain unalienable rights. When someone’s unalienable rights infringes upon another’s, the State may step in and make a decision. But how do they decide?
“Not all rights stand on equal ground. In other words, there is a hierarchy to them. Some are more important than others. When two rights clash, it is sometimes for the State to decide which right has higher precedence. The greatest of these unalienable rights I feel, is the very right to exist!
“I may feel I have the right to carry and use a concealed weapon, but if I walk up to someone on the street, put the barrel to his head and squeeze the trigger, I would be guilty of murder. Why? Because that person’s unalienable right to exist is greater than my right to carry and use a concealed weapon.
“It is very important to me that women have the right to choose… I would not deny them of this. Even in matters of their reproductive health. I do take exception to this however when this right infringes upon another’s right to exist. So when a baby within it’s mother’s womb is aborted, it’s very right to exist becomes violated.
“There are cases where a pregnancy endangers or threatens the life of the mother, where an abortion should be allowed. It’s the right to exist verses the right to exist… an even draw. So the choice should be left to the expectant mother. Some may even argue the case of incest and rape… something I don’t agree with in entirety. But the point I’m trying to make here, is that the vast majority of abortions performed in this country every year, are clear cut examples of individuals having their unalienable right to exist violated by a much lower right to choose. I don’t GET why people have trouble understanding this concept!
“Maybe the confusion lies in the understanding where human life actually begins. And for that discussion, I would like to ask this question: Why do so many people think human life start when the head passes through the birth canal? To me that event is so arbitrary, when considering when human life begins, arguing such borders on pure foolishness!
“Considering recent research, advancements in the medical field and technology, each and every day we are getting a clearer picture of when human life actually begins… and believe you me… it is NOT when the human head passes through the birth canal! Incredible advancements in ultrasound technology are lifting the shroud of invisibility. No longer is a baby in a womb something that is hidden and a mystery. These humans already are capable of showing emotions through facial expressions. They have thoughts, they dream, they suck their thumb, kick their legs, thrash their arms… they have personality, they are sensitive to touch… and they definitely can feel pain! Nothing we have learned recently could lead any sane person to conclude that these humans were not human at all, but merely TISSUE!!! If I have my tonsils or appendix removed, YES, the doctor is removing human tissue. When an abortion is performed, a human life is ended! PERIOD!
“So if you were to ask me when I think human life begins. I don’t think I could successfully argue that it begins at conception. I haven’t even convinced myself that a zygote or blastula constitutes an individual human life. I can’t say! But what I do know is, if the embryo (or fetus) has brain waves and a heartbeat, then it is human, and already posses the same unalienable rights as born humans!
“Everyday, because of my profession, I work with expectant mothers, most out of wedlock. When I ask them what people (parents, peers, boyfriends) said after they announced their pregnancy. Ninety percent it seems always use the same four words… ‘Get Rid of IT.’ In my opinion, it is a very sad commentary on our times. We are so self absorbed, we do not want to be bothered with a pregnancy. So we are willing to kill our unborn children if they are of slightest inconvenience to us!
“I have a better solution. We need to hold ourselves to a higher level of accountability. If you choose to have sex, along with that comes the possibility of a child… that’s just how things work! If you choose not to have a child at the time, consider lowering your chances through contraception or eliminate your chances altogether through abstinence. We need to do a better job of training our young people in sex education and contraception. Parents need to get their children more involved with church or other religious institutions of their choosing where moral and ethical values are best addressed. Parents also need to spend more time with their children at home, giving their children the attention they deserve so they don’t feel compelled to go elsewhere for attention. We need to get rid of the stigmatism behind adoption and we need to do a better job providing services to expectant mothers and single parents.”
To which, I replied:
I am sorry I left you with the impression that I accused Sam Brownback of not being outraged by child abuse. My question was an implied relative state, not a direct accusation, since I have not discussed the topic with Sam. Based on his public actions and statements as well as his legislative initiatives and voting record, it would be easy to assume dear ol' Sam only cared about stopping abortion, since he has done dreadfully little about preventing child abuse or protecting children.
My opinion of Sam Brownback is not a function of political affiliation, political bias, or predisposition . . . only based upon his public statements and actions. Yes, there are some topics and positions I can and do agree with Brownback. But, when he puts on his sanctimonious, I-know-the-correct-path cloak of righteousness, my anger levels rocket into orbit.
You’ve raised numerous aspects of the volatile topic of abortion. Succinctly, I agree with and accept Justice Blackmun’s analysis in Roe v. Wade. Intellectually, I cannot accept that life begins at conception; that argument can be extended to synaptic activity that leads to the intersection of an ovum and a sperm, or the molecular construction of those cells. A woman’s body is not a birthing vessel belonging to or controlled by the State; a woman is a citizen with all the rights and privileges afford all citizens. That aside, I could accept (and I think most reasoning citizens could accept it as well) the State’s elimination of a woman’s sovereignty over her most intimate physiological functions, if we demonstrated a will to care more for the unwanted child. We have spent an inordinate amount of time, energy and resources trying to defend an inanimate zygote than we have protecting the welfare of a child. In short and in very blunt terms, I would rather terminate a pregnancy prior to that point of extra-corporeal sustainability than condemn an unwanted child to a lifetime of abuse, neglect, suffering and injury. [91, 149, 152A/B, 168, 173, 177, 189, 214] Then, not only do we have destructive parents, but we also have added potentially destructive children to society. In my humble opinion, ALL serial murderers were abused children, as an example. That is what I think is hypocritical and disingenuous about the anti-abortion argument . . . rather than deal with the more threatening and serious issue of uncared for children, they take the easy argument of protecting the unborn. Furthermore, the anti-abortion debate has been taken to such an extreme that we have girdled embryonic stem cell research, and we endured tragic episodes like Terri Schiavo [171, 173] that violate personal dignity at our most intimate moments. A poster child for the point I am trying to make is a New York woman who has had seven (7) children ranging in age from 8 months to 12 years with seven (7) different males AND the six (6) older children have been remanded to state custody with six different foster families, of course at taxpayer expense. [161] In summary, until our society can deal with the insanity of irresponsible and injurious parents, like that New York woman, to protect the children and allow them to grow in a supportive, nurturing, instructive and loving environment, I cannot support removal of a woman’s control over her body, especially in cases where she knows she should not have children. I have made numerous suggestions [189] on how we might eventually eliminate abortion as a viable medical procedure; my desire has been to find an appropriate, committed compromise, rather than the current bludgeon-each-other-into-submission approach now in play.
I have rather strong opinions regarding the place sex should occupy in our lives from adolescence to death. Further, I also have strong opinions regarding the ridiculous societal attitudes we – and here I mean Americans since a goodly portion of the world hold more reasoned attitudes – we hold toward our sexuality, our sexual conduct and the teaching of our children. Abstinence is not a realistic option in my humble opinion. That shall be a topic for another day.
I laud your suggestions. I do not agree with all aspects, but I certainly agree with a number of the elements. In fact, you will see several of your elements in my proposal [189] to remedy this tragic impasse we suffer.
. . . and this follow-up:
“Isn't it great that we live in a country where people are free to openly speak their minds!!! We may agree on some things, and not on others, and remain on good terms! I can only speak of what I know deep down inside of me... to do anything else would make me a fake.”
. . . and my follow-up:
Very well said . . . we are truly blessed as we enjoy the unalienable Rights endowed upon all of us by God. I genuinely hope we will continue to debate issues and agree or disagree as our opinions take us.
My very best wishes to all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
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