Update from the
Heartland
No.726
9.11.15 – 15.11.15
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
To all,
The follow-up news items:
-- The MetroJet Flight 9268 investigation [724] has
been overshadowed. Numerous press
opinions reflect concerns about the ambiguity surrounding exactly what
happened, and potentially who caused it, if it was a criminal act. The answers to what happened lay in the
wreckage of the aircraft. We can
only hope the investigation team performs a methodical, careful, deliberate
examination of the debris field before they moved parts, and then complete a
thorough, detail, forensic examination of the wreckage to determine precisely
what happened. From that point and
if appropriate, we can identify the perpetrators and seek remedy. Until that time, we should not jump to
conclusions as some have done in attributing culpability to ISIL (the group has
publicly claimed responsibility, but the evidence must validate that claim
before it is real).
Friday
the 13th, Paris suffered a heinous coordinated attack by what
appears so far to be Islamo-fascist operatives, or at least sympathizers. A lot of disassociated information
makes correlation more difficult; however, it appears at least three (3) teams
attacked six (6) sites in Paris across a 33-minute span of time – clearly
coordinated and well-planned. ISIL
has again claimed responsibility, however, to date, I am not aware of any
direct connections to establish that linkage. Président de la République Française
François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande proclaimed ISIL was the
perpetrator and initiated military action against ISIL sites in Syria, with the
assistance of U.S. intelligence.
The linkage information has not been made public as yet, although at
least one of the attackers was a migrant from Syria through Greece.
I
suspect the ISIL linkage will be definitively established. The Schengen Agreement of 1985, which
established open borders among member states, has been drawn into serious
question. I truly hope the
European Union does not step back from the Schengen Agreement, but rather
reinforce it with a serious effort to enforce immigration controls at the
periphery of the member states.
Citizens
of this Grand Republic should not and must not be tisk-tisk’ing our European
cousins. We have had blatantly
porous borders for decades.
Further, we have presidential candidates beating on their chest like
some, silver back, mountain gorilla about massive, deportation raids to
compensate for the failure of the federal government to enforce immigration
law. There are lessons to be learned
in this tragedy for all freedom-loving people.
More
opinions are offered in the Comment Section below.
News from the economic front:
-- EuroStat reported the European Union's Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) rose 0.3% in 3Q2015, and rose 1.6% from 3Q2014. The quarter-on-quarter
growth rate was down from 0.4% in 2Q2015, and translates into an annualized
growth rate of 1.2%, the weakest since 3Q2014. The eurozone economy slowed in the third quarter as exports
to large developing economies weakened. The third quarter performance makes it
more likely the European Central Bank will expand its stimulus programs in
December.
-- Japan's GDP contracted 0.8% on an annualized basis in 3Q2015
– the second consecutive quarterly decline, as consumer spending remained soft
and businesses cut back on investment amid jitters over the economic slowdown
in the PRC.
Continuing comments from Update no.724:
“Well said on Metrojet #9268. I was never too happy that the FBI seemed to displace the
NTSB in TWA#800.
“It was interesting I provided a lift for one of the Solar Turbine
domestic/international techs on Sunday, and he said he was advised by their
travel agency to expect flight delays ‘due to the Lufthansa strike.’ I thought that was interesting since he
was flying from San Diego to Denver on this sortie, whereas usually he is going
overseas. I wonder if the ‘travel
delay’ may have something to do with beefed-up security in USA, due to Metrojet
#9268. What is interesting in
watching various 'expert witnesses' on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, are how many of
them say how even in America, we still have big gaps in security with
airport/airliner security. Since
9/11, I've heard various accounts about how TSA is not vetting their own people
too well.
“On Carson: I agree with exactly what you opine. One of the things that has caused me to
place my own red flag up on Carson, is his flip-flop of a passive kind of
persona, folksy, super calm, then he quickly transitioned into a much more
aggressive man, with the press, when the heat got turned on. Whether this is a passive-aggressive
personality, or Carson unable to handle the heat, or if his handlers are
telling him to come across as more aggressive, I do not know. If his reaction is natural, I have issues
with that. If some of the things
he said he did when he was younger, that are unable to be substantiated by the
press or witnesses, like stabbing a guy in the gut only to have a belt buckle
deflect it, due to sudden anger, well I do not see that behavior no matter how
long ago, as being presidential. In fact, I would not hire someone like
that if I had my own company like once before. Sorry. I do not
care if you say you've been redeemed or that was a past anger management issue,
I find that troubling. I find it
troubling Carson may have made-up fiction for his book calling it the truth. I am sorry, but I am starting to become
very concerned about Carson, as much as I have liked the guy. At least with Trump we sort of have a
loose lips WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) kind of persona. Trump is more the Billy Carter but with
enough sensibility not to go urinate on the side of a building with the Press
Corps watching him.
“On the HS student, you might have read my sentence incorrectly or
I wrote it without clarification. I was suggesting that I almost think in this day and age,
Deputy Fields would have been better in the eye of public opinion, to Tase the
student rather than tossing her upside down in her student desk, then dragging
her on the floor. We've been
accustomed to seeing people Tased for minor offenses, including the guy that
was asking Kerry if he was in Skull & Bones, at University of Florida,
17-September 2007. It became known
as the "Don't Tase Me Bro!" incident with viral video. While some cops might be too quick to
Tase people (including old people, disabled folks, and kids), I do assert that
the Taser has probably helped reduce many injuries to combatants because it use
to be batons, carotid artery chokeholds, and more. It has perhaps, made it safer for the perps but definitely
much safer for law enforcement to deploy a Taser. On the young woman in the classroom that Deputy Fields
arrested, the flipping her in her student chair could have actually broken her
neck, which then he'd be dealing with a much different situation than just
being out of a job. I suspect what
will happen is after another 300 news cycles (which there are many per day),
Deputy Fields will be hired by another agency, and will get a job back in L.E. I agree with you Cap that parenting was
missing with that young student. Of
course it does not help that CNN and the racial dividers like Al Sharpton (and
many more I will leave out at this point) program into that young student, the
anger and anti-police attitudes and behavior, not to mention she lacked any
respect for the teacher, the fellow students, and even the principal who had
come into the class asking her to please leave the class, which she failed to
comply with any of them.
“It should be noted, that other students in the school where
Deputy Fields once was a school resource officer, including African-Americans,
worked to save his job after the incident. Some wrote he was the coolest
cop in the world, and always treated them well. Too bad the alphabet news agencies and other sinister
elements trying to race bait our country, turned it into a white vs. black kind
of deal, once again.”
My response:
Re:
TWA 800. Likewise. I always did and still do think the FBI
reacted emotionally to a sensational and equally unusual event. I will also say their overly aggressive
actions compromised the safety investigation. We are verging on similar compromise on Metrojet 9268.
Re:
TSA. One thing I learned many
years ago . . . there is no such thing as perfect security. Where there is a will there is a way. That said, “60 Minutes” had a segment last Sunday about deficiencies on OPM’s
contracting and review of background security investigations. One the agencies of concern was
TSA. If there are holes / gaps,
they will be exploited by our enemies.
Re:
Carson. I share your concerns. I have no idea whether his claims are true
or not, but I do know he has NOT handled this situation well. In fact, I am tempted to call it
inept. For him to claim no other
political candidate has been subjected to such Press scrutiny (or abuse,
depending upon perspective) defies logic, reason and even just a modicum of
knowledge of the political process.
I have not been a fan of his politics; I am even less of a fan now.
Re:
HS student. I cannot see how a
TASER would have been a better or even more tolerable approach – an unarmed,
young female versus a trained, fit, male police officer – I don’t think
so. Yes, I do agree, Deputy Fields
takedown of the female student was risky and more emotional than good police
work. Yes, TASERs have saved
lives, but a simple wrist or forearm lock probably would have done the trick.
Re:
Deputy Fields. Yes, I had heard of
the local support as well. Yes,
the way that incident was spun was most unfortunate and not helpful for our
peace and safety.
Comments and contributions from Update no.725:
“Just returning to the surface after a fairly intense spell of
‘Remembrance services, concerts and Parades’.
“We now have our school briefings to complete during this week- we
will address something like 2500 pupils this year at primary and high school
levels. This work we feel is so utterly important, the younger generations must
learn of the horrors of war, that it is not a computer game and soldiers do not
rise from the dead. As a child myself I can recall German air raids and at four
years a vivid memory of a V1 buzzing across our house in Kent with mother
frantically dragging us in from the garden. The noise alone made by that
‘cruise missile’ stays entrenched deeply in my memory.
“The youngsters of today, thank God, know nothing of the futility
of war and need to be told of its consequences.
“Today I took two veterans with me today, both in their nineties.
I took the youngsters back in a time machine to 1941 when my veterans were
their age and off to war. It seemed to work.
“On another subject if I may. I remember your update some years
since talking about assisted dying and how it can be obtained in some states in
your homeland but not others. Was it your mother’s condition that brought this
subject to the fore? Please forgive me if that is wrong Cap.
“My reason for resurrecting this matter with you is truly sad. We
lost our standard bearer in August, a retired Welsh Guardsman and whose long
and splendid service involved guarding Rudolf Hess at Spandau. What a story of
service life he had to tell that I regret I never recorded.
“However Cap, he died an unfitting and distressing death at the
hands of cancer. We visited most days and his deteriorating condition made us
squirm and treble in revulsion. No human being should be allowed to suffer as
he did. Unable to speak and thrashing about in his bed making noises that only
spoke of death. It was a most dreadful end for an old soldier. I asked for
something to ease his suffering but nothing of any real effect could be done.
It was a most tragic end for a brave and determined old soldier. Under this
circumstance if they had given me the needle I would have asked him for
forgiveness and administered whatever it took. This experience was tragedy
beyond any other I have witnessed and distressing in the extreme. In such
circumstances I would most certainly support a voluntary end of life agreement
with my carers. Regrettably illegal in this part of the world.”
My reply:
Well
done with your annual work on behalf of veterans, and especially with informing
our younger generations. That is
one of many reasons I work so hard to make sure the history is correct in my
novels; it might be the only ‘touch’ readers have with those events. So nice, generous and necessary to make
sure the children remember.
Absolutely
amazing and we learn more everyday.
It had not dawned on me that you might have experienced the sounds of V1
attacks. Kent was under the
primary path for V1’s heading to London.
That had to be frightening . . . a very distinctive sound. Do you have any awareness of V2
attacks?
Re:
death with dignity. Your memory is
excellent. Yes, my mother’s
passing affected me and inspired my evangelism with respect to death with
dignity. My efforts in Kansas
continue without much progress.
Just an FYI: my father passed suddenly without the protracted suffering
my Mother experienced. Your
description of your veteran’s passing sounds distinctly similar to my Mother –
a very undignified passing. As I
recall, at least the law in the UK means the Crown Prosecution Service will not
criminalize those who seek their right in Switzerland or other countries in
Europe. We must continue to press
for the law to respect our rights and our dignity. The laws in states where legal in this Grand Republic
require the individual be lucid and must be capable of the final decision.
Re:
Hess at Spandau. Oh my, quite a
story . . . and now that story is lost.
. . . round two:
“That’s another school done…only 159 students this time. Tomorrow
we have a high school and then two minutes silence with our bugler at the
village memorial.
“I knew you’d be interested in my encounter with the suffering of
our fine friend. It was a dreadful experience and one I may never delete from
my memory. Our brains don’t work like our computers, there is no delete button.
But one must try to recall the better times-the happy memories and try to push
the worst into the darker corners. Where hopefully they will remain.
“V1 [sic, meant V2], no thank God. They must have soared over the
top of us out of sight and sound. What weapons they both were, especially for
the period. It’s a good job our forefathers stopped them.”
. . . my reply to round two:
Remembrance
/ Veterans Day. God bless those
who have served.
Hope
everything goes well at the high school tomorrow.
Living
through a protracted, lingering death cannot be forgotten. I have never been a fan of funerals; I
favor celebration of a life well lived.
Yes,
quite so, the V2 had a near vertical, supersonic descent, so whatever sound
came was after impact. Especially
with respect to the advanced weapons like the V1 & V2, imagine what might
have been if Hitler had support the vengeance weapons earlier in the war? Thank goodness things played out the
way they did.
. . . Round three:
“Thanks again for your best wishes. Two more high school
visits and then we can relax a little.
“Although I can’t recall the name of the village in France
we visited a massive Nazi bunker where these weapons were assembled for firing.
This entire construction consisting of a massive underground dome was built by
slaves who died in their dozens. An extraordinary desperate experience, I’m not
certain but I believe it was a target for our Tallboys. (when I was on training
we used to sit on one of those having our tea break!)
Indeed Cap, it was a damned good piece of work that our boys
together won the day.”
. . . my reply to round three:
From
your description, I suspect you are referring to La Coupole
d'Helfaut-Wizernes, which was hit many times during
construction. The sight was hit
more than once by Lancaster bombers, dropping the 6T Tallboy bombs, also used
to finally sink DKM Tirpitz, among
other German targets of the day.
I’ve not yet visited the site, but I’m sure it had to be impressive.
Damned
good piece of work indeed and not the last time we have collaborated against a
common foe.
. . . Round four:
“I’m at a loss to describe my feelings this evening after the
atrocities in Paris. Maybe tomorrow my friend. Je suis Charlie.”
. . . my reply to round four:
While
the scale of the Paris attacks is not to 9/11 attacks, the consequences are the
same. The details of who and why
are still emerging as I write, but it surely looks like violent, radical
fundamentalism of al-Qa’ida has metastasized into the new form of ISIL. The uncontrolled influx of “refugees”
to the European Union has to be of enormous concern, as our collective enemy
has found the means to utilize European generosity to bypass our security
checks and thoroughly infiltrate our communities.
I
am fairly certain the security and intelligence services are in overdrive
trying to assist the French in finding and prosecuting those who supported the
killers, since they are dead.
Je
suis Français, en effet! Vive la
France!
. . . Round five:
“It’s odd isn’t it, there must be something in our thought
processes that puts a constraint on finding the deepest terms of disgust and
horror when communicating on such an appalling act of brutality as in Paris
Friday evening.
“I still find it damned difficult to conjure up the right prose
and synonyms to express the way we all feel about yet another barbaric act of
senseless savagery and hatred.
“What is to be done? And yes we have long been aware that there will
be unwanted individuals slipping into Europe as refugees. We have an undisputed
problem my friend but one that must be solved. We wish no more 9/11’s, London
bus, Paris attacks, Beirut and others. Is the cause merely the suspect
integration of the Muslim people in our cities or is it something deeper and
sinister? I believe we know the answer to that Cap. If that is the answer then
it will have to be destroyed and sent into the darkest pages of human history.”
. . . my reply to round five:
One
thing is quite certain, ISIL (and al-Qa’ida et al) have been consistent – they
want to return to the 7th Century, at least socially, since they are
comfortable using 21st Century weapons to achieve their aims. Further, they want everyone to take
that journey with them. Their
ruthlessness and brutality are consistent with their aims, e.g., destroying any
artifact in existence prior to 632 AD.
I
do not think the issue is Islam, Muslims or the integration of Muslims. The majority of Muslims do NOT embrace
the radical fundamentalism of ISIL, al-Qa’ida, or any of the other myriad
radical manifestations. I know
more than a few Muslims who have assimilated quite well in western societies. Some may still teach their children
fundamentalist principles, but then again, there are Christians who teach their
children in the same manner. The
issue for all us is the identification and interdiction of the radical,
fundamentalist, Islamo-fascists, who seek world domination through violence. In this sense, there is not much
difference between Islamo-fascism and National Socialism of the last century.
Yes,
I’m afraid, radicalism of any kind must be eradicated. I do not see much hope of
redemption. Thus, let us recognize
reality and get on with the task at hand.
The German people survived the eradication process and are stronger
today for the experience.
A different
contribution:
“Note on the USS Lassen –
one of my check hops at Saufley was by the late Commander Clyde Lassen. I recall he was a low-key instructor.
“Regarding Carson, he had built himself up via his feel-good
story, which was impressive. But
he also embellished it along the way, and maybe now really believes some of it.
Some it is demonstrably false, and
he isn’t helped by his goofy statements on the pyramids. Also his story on fronting for a health
nostrum also damaged his credibility. The West Point story was
emblematic. Remember that this was written about twenty years ago- so it
was fresher in his mind. And while he could be given some slack for the
‘scholarship’ part- he was also telling and writing that Gen Westmoreland was
there and ‘offered’ him the scholarship. Westmoreland’s personal itinerary says that he was
actually in Washington DC and playing tennis on that date.”
My response:
Re:
Lassen. You have had some
interesting characters in your life.
Re:
Carson. Good comments. He lost any remaining credibility he
might have commanded. This should
be the death knell, but it will likely take a long time to play out. I have fundamentally disagreed with his
positions on virtually all social issues.
Another contribution:
“I noticed this past week had little coverage of Metrojet
#9268. It seemed the week's news cycles covered mostly presidential
politics, especially the dual between Trump vs. Carson. Then it was the
twin bombings in Beirut. Then the following day it was the tragic attacks
in Paris.
“In the South China Sea, I understand a couple of our USAF B-52's
flew through the contested territory, and while China issued warnings to our
B-52's, thankfully no incident occurred.
“We live in interesting times Cap, as Trump proposes a ‘deportation
force’ in America, as we see what happened in Paris (and all over Europe) with
the bulk of refugees coming from Syria (and then the continent of Africa), and
the reportage some of the Syrians flooding into Europe are being recruited into
ISIS. Will France have a deportation police? Those crossing borders
should be vetted with every database possible, but the problem for both Europe
and America (etc.) is how to handle the enormous population of those already
inside, who may have not been vetted properly, or are upstanding with no
criminal/terrorist tendencies, and how do they get removed, or vetted. We were told Friday that thousands of
ISIS sympathizers posted Tweets applauding the Paris terrorist attacks. Those account holders in my opinion,
would be a great place to start to vet and/or deport immediately, or detain
until further investigation can conclude such perps are not a threat.
“Sadly as much as I wanted to avoid the PRE-CRIME scenario (as
mentioned previously and highlighted in the movie Minority Report), I think we are advancing that way and soon.”
My reply:
Modern
news cycles are like that . . . these are the times in which we live.
What
the PRC is doing in the South China Sea is wrong. I hope, no I expect, the U.S. and other freedom-loving
countries to continue challenging the PRC’s hegemonic actions in the area.
The
refugee situation in Europe has been a serious concern from the get-go. Uncontrolled entry into any country is
a definite risk and threat. Any
country should only allow individuals to enter who wish to adopt the culture of
the host country, assimilate into society, and respect the governing principles
of public conduct, and we must add, they have some skill or capability to
enhance productivity, i.e., contribute to society. I lived and worked in numerous foreign countries during my
military service; I respected local culture, but we were there under a different
aegis and for a specific mission.
I also lived and worked as a civilian in England and Italy for several
years each. I must say, both
countries have far more controlled work permit and visa controls than this
country has ever had. While the
entry constraints are comparable, keeping track of visitors once inside the
country are dramatically different between the U.S. and at least what I
experienced in England and Italy.
As I understand the statistics in this Grand Republic, the majority of
people in the country illegally are visa-over-stay individuals. I never over-stayed my visa. I followed the constraints
precisely. I do not know what
enforcement the British or Italians would have taken if I had violated my visa
constraints, but I suspect it would have been progressively more
aggressive. I will also say, I did
not feel the least bit burdens or diminished by the visa constraints.
Re:
“Minority Report” hypothesis. I understand your concern, i.e., as
portrayed in the movie. However,
as I have argued in the past, we need to get serious about domestic
intelligence and predictive conduct.
The capability must be distinctly separate from law enforcement. The closest contemporary structure I’ve
seen is the relationship between MI5 and the Met in London. We must find the means to regulate
intelligence activities and avoid abuses reflected in the movie. The over-looked “signs” of deviant
behavior in serial or mass killers have long troubled me, and we must find the
means to intercede before they harm other citizens.
My
very best wishes to all. Take care
of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
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