People have been very quick to get on the "Everybody Against Mel Gibson" bandwagon and that is a mistake.
Gibson is an admitted alcoholic. And following his arrest for driving under the influence, he entered a rehab program that deals with addictions.
It's an understood fact that when someone is drunk, they sometimes say things that are very offensive. That's the alcohol doing most of the talking. So when I hear that Mel Gibson went on an anti-Jewish tirade when he was extremely intoxicated, that's not the real Mel Gibson speaking.
Point: many are angry at Israel for bombing so many innocent civilians in their war against Hezbollah. I've expressed that kind of anger at Israel for all the collatoral damage they're causing on this blog. Alcohol is an an amplifier and if Gibson was feeling anger at Israel too, the alcohol impairment might well have amplified that anger and caused it to come out in the form of an unfortunate verbal assault on Jewish people.
He's also fighting to get out of a very long shadow cast by his father's anti-Semetic comments. He probably worries about what his dad is going to say next all the time, and the alcohol probably brought that out of him too.
I cannot condone what he said, but my understanding of alcoholism has increased exponentially in recent weeks and how alcohol treatment programs work. I understand a great deal more about it now having observed someone going through it.
Most of Gibson's tirade is the alcohol talking; when he's in the rehab program he will need to confront things he's said and done while under the influence of alcohol. This will be a part of it. And his fellow recovering alcoholics in AA will keep him honest too.
He may well come out after his treatment is done and come clean about how he feels about things. I will reserve my judgment until then. The press and Hollywood probably should too.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Nazi Aircraft Carrier Located on the Bottom of the Baltic Sea
One of World War II's secrets was finally revealed to the world last week with the discovery of the Nazi aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin on the bottom of the Baltic.
She was constructed in 1938 but never saw combat and was captured by the Soviets in 1945. The ship was roughly the same size as the largest American carriers of the war. When the German shipbuilding yards were about to be captured by Soviet forces in April 1945, the Nazis scuttled her.
But the Soviets refloated the ship, repaired it and used it as a ferry to haul German and Polish equipment back to the Soviet Union until at least 1947, when Western spies photographed her and witnessed what happened to her next.
According to recently released KGB documents and reports from the Western agents, the Soviet Navy and Red Air Force used her for target practice and sank her with bombs, gunfire and torpedoes. It was thought by Soviet officials that knowing how to sink a state-of-the-art aircraft carrier would be useful (if they ever had to fight the U.S. Navy) and was a valuable state secret, so the Soviets kept the exact location of the wreck of the Graf Zeppelin quiet for decades.
All of that changed last week when a team of oil explorers were doing a sounding on the bottom of the Baltic and detected the wreck. No one is sure which nation has control over the wreck, but the discovery has shed light on what was one of World War II's most facinating secrets.
She was constructed in 1938 but never saw combat and was captured by the Soviets in 1945. The ship was roughly the same size as the largest American carriers of the war. When the German shipbuilding yards were about to be captured by Soviet forces in April 1945, the Nazis scuttled her.
But the Soviets refloated the ship, repaired it and used it as a ferry to haul German and Polish equipment back to the Soviet Union until at least 1947, when Western spies photographed her and witnessed what happened to her next.
According to recently released KGB documents and reports from the Western agents, the Soviet Navy and Red Air Force used her for target practice and sank her with bombs, gunfire and torpedoes. It was thought by Soviet officials that knowing how to sink a state-of-the-art aircraft carrier would be useful (if they ever had to fight the U.S. Navy) and was a valuable state secret, so the Soviets kept the exact location of the wreck of the Graf Zeppelin quiet for decades.
All of that changed last week when a team of oil explorers were doing a sounding on the bottom of the Baltic and detected the wreck. No one is sure which nation has control over the wreck, but the discovery has shed light on what was one of World War II's most facinating secrets.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Hezbollah Won't Honor Any Cease-Fire: Another Solution is Needed to Stop Mideast Fighting
The talk of an immediate cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah/Lebanon is only that: talk.
Does anyone out there REALLY think that Hezbollah will stop fighting Israel because of a U.N. resolution? They're a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel and have no desire to live alongside it.
And they don't care about who they sacrifice in the process. Remember: they're the ones who are placing their military hardware next to apartment buildings and houses in southern Lebanon and daring Israel to defend themselves, knowing full well that collatoral damage will destroy Lebanese property and lives.
Hezbollah's handlers in Tehran and Damascus aren't interested in allowing Israel to exist either and are even less inclined than Hezbollah to see an end to the open warfare. And they don't care if all of Lebanon is blown to kingdom come in the process.
The world knows full well that Hezbollah will continue to rain rockets down on Israeli cities but don't want Israel to fire back. Hezbollah must be disarmed or destroyed.
For all the noise that diplomats from around the world are making, I'm not seeing those nations volunteering troops for a U.N. force in southern Lebanon either. A cease-fire will hold only if the international community has the brass to back it up with boots on the ground. They should put up or shut up.
It's laughable that they want Israel to sacrifice their national treasure (their people who continue to die from Hezbollah rockets) in the name of peace while refusing to risk any of their own to insure that the peace is kept. And the U.S. shouldn't bail the world out on this either by contributing fifty times the amount of troops that the smallest donor nation provides either.
World complaints require a world fix. And if they're not part of the solution, then they're part of the problem.
Does anyone out there REALLY think that Hezbollah will stop fighting Israel because of a U.N. resolution? They're a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel and have no desire to live alongside it.
And they don't care about who they sacrifice in the process. Remember: they're the ones who are placing their military hardware next to apartment buildings and houses in southern Lebanon and daring Israel to defend themselves, knowing full well that collatoral damage will destroy Lebanese property and lives.
Hezbollah's handlers in Tehran and Damascus aren't interested in allowing Israel to exist either and are even less inclined than Hezbollah to see an end to the open warfare. And they don't care if all of Lebanon is blown to kingdom come in the process.
The world knows full well that Hezbollah will continue to rain rockets down on Israeli cities but don't want Israel to fire back. Hezbollah must be disarmed or destroyed.
For all the noise that diplomats from around the world are making, I'm not seeing those nations volunteering troops for a U.N. force in southern Lebanon either. A cease-fire will hold only if the international community has the brass to back it up with boots on the ground. They should put up or shut up.
It's laughable that they want Israel to sacrifice their national treasure (their people who continue to die from Hezbollah rockets) in the name of peace while refusing to risk any of their own to insure that the peace is kept. And the U.S. shouldn't bail the world out on this either by contributing fifty times the amount of troops that the smallest donor nation provides either.
World complaints require a world fix. And if they're not part of the solution, then they're part of the problem.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Corporal Joe Micks---1983-2006---Rest in Peace Friend
I've just learned that a friend of mine from Scout camp and brother Eagle Scout was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
His name was Joe Micks and he was from Rapid River, Michigan. We served on Camp Hiawatha staff together. For a time he worked under me as a lifeguard on my waterfront staff. His brother Andy was also a staff member at Camp Hiawatha.
Two of his Army comrades were also killed in the bombing.
Joe's funeral was last week. I didn't find out until tonight due to time and distance. I'm very saddened by Joe's death and will always remember a young man with a sense of humor who knew what he wanted to do with his time and his skills.
Goodbye, Joe, and thank you.
Attack on U.N. Building in South Lebanon Was Hezbollah's Fault: They Were Using the Base as Cover for Rocket Launchings
How quickly the story changes.
It's being reported that the U.N. base that came under Israeli attack was being used as a shield to launch Hezbollah rockets into northern Israel. Apparently Hezbollah was inside the compound launching rockets at the time of the air attack and the damage to the U.N. compound was collatoral damage, as Hezbollah had hoped would happen.
This was a Hezbollah ploy from the get-go.
The peacekeepers won't use force to keep others out of their compound, so Hezbollah was running amok on the base.
It's time to pull the rest of the peacekeepers out until a cease-fire is established and definite rules of engagement against the terrorists are in place.
It's being reported that the U.N. base that came under Israeli attack was being used as a shield to launch Hezbollah rockets into northern Israel. Apparently Hezbollah was inside the compound launching rockets at the time of the air attack and the damage to the U.N. compound was collatoral damage, as Hezbollah had hoped would happen.
This was a Hezbollah ploy from the get-go.
The peacekeepers won't use force to keep others out of their compound, so Hezbollah was running amok on the base.
It's time to pull the rest of the peacekeepers out until a cease-fire is established and definite rules of engagement against the terrorists are in place.
Dean Should Practice What He Preaches: Calls for End to Divisiveness While Comparing Opponent to Stalin
Howard Dean's hypocricy knows no bounds.
The Democratic Party chairman issued a statement calling for an end to divisiveness in Washington politics, while at the same time comparing Florida GOP Senate hopeful Katherine Harris to Stalin and calling her a "crook."
This comes on the heels of his proclaiming traditional marriage as "outmoded and bigoted" following court losses on gay marriage in Georgia and New York. (In those cases, the courts declined to rule on gay marriage, deferring to the respective state legislatures.)
Come on, Mr. Dean, practice what you preach.
The Democratic Party chairman issued a statement calling for an end to divisiveness in Washington politics, while at the same time comparing Florida GOP Senate hopeful Katherine Harris to Stalin and calling her a "crook."
This comes on the heels of his proclaiming traditional marriage as "outmoded and bigoted" following court losses on gay marriage in Georgia and New York. (In those cases, the courts declined to rule on gay marriage, deferring to the respective state legislatures.)
Come on, Mr. Dean, practice what you preach.
As Bad as Middle East Looks, We Have to Remember that We Have Two Wars Going On Ourselves
We've been distracted from our ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ever since fighting broke out in the Middle East and we need to refocus some of our attention on where it's needed.
It's being reported that a family in Texas has lost both of their sons in combat. One was killed two years ago in Iraq, the other recently died in Afghanistan.
Losing one son would be bad enough, but losing both? I cannot begin to imagine the pain that this family is going through.
Before we commit to joining any more foreign adventures, we need to conclude our business in Iraq and Afghanistan. We owe it to the fallen and their families to finish the job that they started and then get out of there.
So perish the thought of U.S. troops being peacekeepers in Lebanon. If we do go over there, it'll be to fight Hezbollah, not keep them away from Israel. Hezbollah has the blood of 241 U.S. Marines on their hands from the 1983 Beruit barracks bombing that they have yet to answer for.
It's being reported that a family in Texas has lost both of their sons in combat. One was killed two years ago in Iraq, the other recently died in Afghanistan.
Losing one son would be bad enough, but losing both? I cannot begin to imagine the pain that this family is going through.
Before we commit to joining any more foreign adventures, we need to conclude our business in Iraq and Afghanistan. We owe it to the fallen and their families to finish the job that they started and then get out of there.
So perish the thought of U.S. troops being peacekeepers in Lebanon. If we do go over there, it'll be to fight Hezbollah, not keep them away from Israel. Hezbollah has the blood of 241 U.S. Marines on their hands from the 1983 Beruit barracks bombing that they have yet to answer for.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Another Security Breach: 540,000 New Yorkers at Risk of Identity Theft
Oh, not again.
A computer containing names, addresses and social security numbers of some 540,000 disabled residents of New York may have gone missing. It was an insurance company that reported the computer missing.
When are these companies (and governments) going to do a better job of protecting people's privacy and identities?
A computer containing names, addresses and social security numbers of some 540,000 disabled residents of New York may have gone missing. It was an insurance company that reported the computer missing.
When are these companies (and governments) going to do a better job of protecting people's privacy and identities?
Cargo Vessel from Singapore in MAJOR Trouble off Alaska
A cargo ship carrying 5,000 cars to Vancouver from overseas is floundering off the coast of Alaska at this late hour.U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force units are enroute to the stricken vessel to try to save the crew and possibily the cargo ship, but it's taking on water and listing nearly 90 degrees to starboard. How this happened is unknown, but it got into trouble sometime on Sunday and began sending out distress calls.
Amazing photo.
Lebanon Rejects Secretary Rice's Peace Plan: No Surprise There
News came today that the Lebanese rejected Secretary of State Rice's plan for peace in the Israeli-Hezbollah-Lebanon war which entered Day 12 today.
It's hard to talk peace when one's country is being blown to smithereens. That's how the Lebanese reacted to talk of dealing with Hezbollah while the bombs continue to fall. It's unfortunate that all sides are being so bull-headed about a simple cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel.
Here's an alternative cease-fire deal that Secretary Rice should offer to Israel and Lebanon:
Lebanon and Israel should agree to stop shooting at each other directly. No more Israeli bombing of central and northern Lebanon, and the Lebanese forces stay out of southern Lebanon where Hezbollah's fighters are. Lebanon allows Israel a free hand to deal with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon until the rockets stop coming across the border and the fate of Israel's missing soldiers are determined. Israel promises to focus it's firepower against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon exclusively.
This would allow Israel to effectively harness it's military power and get on with sending more Hezbollah terrorists to hell where they belong.
This plan is far more effective than the ones being floated by the U.S., Israel and Lebanon so far. The politicians really need to get their heads out of the sand and pay attention to what's really going on around them.
It's hard to talk peace when one's country is being blown to smithereens. That's how the Lebanese reacted to talk of dealing with Hezbollah while the bombs continue to fall. It's unfortunate that all sides are being so bull-headed about a simple cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel.
Here's an alternative cease-fire deal that Secretary Rice should offer to Israel and Lebanon:
Lebanon and Israel should agree to stop shooting at each other directly. No more Israeli bombing of central and northern Lebanon, and the Lebanese forces stay out of southern Lebanon where Hezbollah's fighters are. Lebanon allows Israel a free hand to deal with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon until the rockets stop coming across the border and the fate of Israel's missing soldiers are determined. Israel promises to focus it's firepower against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon exclusively.
This would allow Israel to effectively harness it's military power and get on with sending more Hezbollah terrorists to hell where they belong.
This plan is far more effective than the ones being floated by the U.S., Israel and Lebanon so far. The politicians really need to get their heads out of the sand and pay attention to what's really going on around them.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Hezbollah Social Services: Public Face for Terrorists and Murderers
Sickening.
Some in the media over here are trying to humanize the Hezbollah movement for their works of charity over in Lebanon.
We'll be sure to include that in their collective obituary along with the following: THEY'VE KIDNAPPED PEOPLE and are FIRING ROCKETS AT ISRAEL.
Here's how the equation works: no kidnappings + no rockets = no Israeli military action.
Those in the know should get it into their heads that Hezbollah is erasing their own good works with the evil that they are committing in the name of God.
If Hezbollah REALLY wanted to do good things for the people of Lebanon, they'd sell their weapons back to the Iranians and Syrians, renounce terrorism and use the money from the weapons sales to fund their charities. Until they do, it's just a public face that they use while attempting to murder people miles away.
Some in the media over here are trying to humanize the Hezbollah movement for their works of charity over in Lebanon.
We'll be sure to include that in their collective obituary along with the following: THEY'VE KIDNAPPED PEOPLE and are FIRING ROCKETS AT ISRAEL.
Here's how the equation works: no kidnappings + no rockets = no Israeli military action.
Those in the know should get it into their heads that Hezbollah is erasing their own good works with the evil that they are committing in the name of God.
If Hezbollah REALLY wanted to do good things for the people of Lebanon, they'd sell their weapons back to the Iranians and Syrians, renounce terrorism and use the money from the weapons sales to fund their charities. Until they do, it's just a public face that they use while attempting to murder people miles away.
Vague Language on Cruise Ship Accident Leaves Many Questions
An Associated Press story came in this morning about a cruise ship unexpected listing to port after suffering a "steering failure." Hundreds were thrown about by the sudden movement, water drained out of the swimming pool and the occupants of the pool suddenly found themselves sliding down the wet deck into whatever was in their way. Dozens of injuries were reported. Windows were broken, furniture was destroyed, TVs were thrown from their perches and broken and all sorts of other damage was inflicted on the ship.
The cruise ship was the month-old Crown Princess and displaces 113,000 tons of water with its huge bulk.
Parts of this story don't make sense.
The story quoted a passenger as saying that "several of the upper decks were flooded with seawater." Look at how high the upper decks are on the ship in the photo above. If several of the upper decks were flooded with seawater, exactly how far over did the ship go?
Now, if some of the LOWER decks were flooded with seawater, then that would make more sense, but the UPPER decks? What kind of steering failure would push the ship nearly onto it's side?
And the damage all over the ship? People were violently thrown about and were quoted in the story as "hanging onto stuff for dear life." They also indicated all of this happened very quickly; far too quickly for a steering problem to have this kind of widespread impact all over the Crown Princess.
It sounds like this ship was hit by a rogue wave. What's really going on here?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Potential U.N. Cease-Fire Will Not Hold: Hezbollah is a TERRORIST Group, Not a Nation and Not a Member of the United Nations
Israel is taking military action on three fronts, not two as is widely accepted.
They are going after Hamas, Hezbollah and Lebanon. The first two are vicious enemies of democracy where no U.N.-brokered cease-fire will hold. The third has a weak government whose military is significantly weaker than Hezbollah and would be defeated if sent against Hezbollah. They would blow the Lebanese army away.
Hamas and Hezbollah need to be destroyed, and Israel is making it happen. That's the bottom line.
I'm not too happy about Israel bombing civilian targets in Gaza and in Lebanon, but chances are good that a cease-fire will be worked out between the governments of Lebanon and Israel within a couple of weeks.
But the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel will continue indefinitely; southern Lebanon will become a no-man's land for the immediate future.
And after giving it a great deal more thought, I do think that the Lebanese government is hoping that Hezbollah gets taken off the Lebanese map so that the democratically elected government of Lebanon can get down to the business of establishing control over all of Lebanon, and not just the north and central parts of the country.
They don't need the Iranians and Syrians sticking their noses into Lebanese business through Hezbollah either. Peace will be easier to achieve without Hezbollah being around to screw things up.
They are going after Hamas, Hezbollah and Lebanon. The first two are vicious enemies of democracy where no U.N.-brokered cease-fire will hold. The third has a weak government whose military is significantly weaker than Hezbollah and would be defeated if sent against Hezbollah. They would blow the Lebanese army away.
Hamas and Hezbollah need to be destroyed, and Israel is making it happen. That's the bottom line.
I'm not too happy about Israel bombing civilian targets in Gaza and in Lebanon, but chances are good that a cease-fire will be worked out between the governments of Lebanon and Israel within a couple of weeks.
But the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel will continue indefinitely; southern Lebanon will become a no-man's land for the immediate future.
And after giving it a great deal more thought, I do think that the Lebanese government is hoping that Hezbollah gets taken off the Lebanese map so that the democratically elected government of Lebanon can get down to the business of establishing control over all of Lebanon, and not just the north and central parts of the country.
They don't need the Iranians and Syrians sticking their noses into Lebanese business through Hezbollah either. Peace will be easier to achieve without Hezbollah being around to screw things up.
Monday, July 17, 2006
International Community Begins to Float Some Good Ideas to Stop Middle East Fighting: Syria and Iran Continue to Destablize Situation
The international community seems to be getting it together. The G-8 issued a statement yesterday blaming militants for starting the conflict, for Hamas and Hezbollah to cease fire and return Israel's captured soldiers, and for Israel to show "utmost restraint" in their attacks if they have to defend themselves.
Tony Blair and UN Secretary-General Annan are floating a plan to send peacekeepers into the Middle East. This is not a bad idea at all, provided it doesn't involve U.S. troops as they are a magnet for terrorist attacks themselves and that Hezbollah and Hamas are our enemies too. The U.S. would rather see Hezbollah and Hamas destroyed.
On the other side of the coin, Iran is threatening Israel with "unimaginable losses" if Israel attacks Syria. despite the fact that Israel could turn Iran into glass at a moment's notice with its arsenal of nuclear weapons. Iran is banking on what it sees as Israeli reluctance to use Israeli nuclear arms, but the Israeli government has never been afraid to use their military anywhere in the world for any reason.
Syria appears to be supplying Hezbollah with Qassam rockets. The giveaway is the steel ball bearings that are in the rocket's warhead. These are unique to Syrian weapons and are designed to scatter at high speed following the rocket's impact and to hit unarmored targets...like people. Hundreds of the steel balls have been recovered by Israeli authorities as well as being pulled out of people hit by these terror weapons.
What is yet to come?
Tony Blair and UN Secretary-General Annan are floating a plan to send peacekeepers into the Middle East. This is not a bad idea at all, provided it doesn't involve U.S. troops as they are a magnet for terrorist attacks themselves and that Hezbollah and Hamas are our enemies too. The U.S. would rather see Hezbollah and Hamas destroyed.
On the other side of the coin, Iran is threatening Israel with "unimaginable losses" if Israel attacks Syria. despite the fact that Israel could turn Iran into glass at a moment's notice with its arsenal of nuclear weapons. Iran is banking on what it sees as Israeli reluctance to use Israeli nuclear arms, but the Israeli government has never been afraid to use their military anywhere in the world for any reason.
Syria appears to be supplying Hezbollah with Qassam rockets. The giveaway is the steel ball bearings that are in the rocket's warhead. These are unique to Syrian weapons and are designed to scatter at high speed following the rocket's impact and to hit unarmored targets...like people. Hundreds of the steel balls have been recovered by Israeli authorities as well as being pulled out of people hit by these terror weapons.
What is yet to come?
Tsunami Hits Indonesia Following 7.2 Magnitude 'Quake: Extent of Casualties and Damage Unknown
As if there wasn't enough going on in the world right now, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast off of Java this morning and generated a tsunami that slammed into Indonesia's coastline.
This was definitely not a repeat of the monster tsunami that struck the region in December 2004 that killed over 229,000 people, but still, the waves were enough to obliterate some structures along the coastline of Java Island.
Tsunami warnings are posted for neighboring countries for the next several hours.
This was definitely not a repeat of the monster tsunami that struck the region in December 2004 that killed over 229,000 people, but still, the waves were enough to obliterate some structures along the coastline of Java Island.
Tsunami warnings are posted for neighboring countries for the next several hours.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Israel Uses a Sledgehammer to Kill a Mosquito: Major Disaster in the Making and the Bush Administration is Acting as the Israeli "Yes-Man."
Missiles and rockets are flying in both directions over the Israeli/Lebanese border as Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue to mix it up.
One has to wonder why the Israelis targeted a power plant in Gaza and why the fledgling democratic Lebanese government has been targeted by Israeli bombs and missiles. Israel knows where Hezbollah is firing their rockets from, and they also know where Hamas is doing it from as well. Yet Israeli bombs and missiles are hitting civilian targets as well as legitimate terrorist targets in both Gaza and in Lebanon.
By the way, the power plant that was destroyed in Gaza was insured....by a U.S. government agency. So the U.S. taxpayer will be replacing the plant that Israel wrecked.
And why isn't the U.S. offering alternative U.N. Security Council resolutions to the ones that have been proposed so far? Lebanon is asking for a cease-fire, which the Israelis and the U.S. both rejected. What does Lebanon have to do, offer to unconditionally surrender to beg Israel to stop targeting civilian assets?
Israel does have a right to defend itself, but not to punish noncombatant civilians who have nothing to do with Israel's missing soldiers. Bombing civilian airports, power plants, bridges, and roads to hurt Hezbollah actually hurts ordinary civilians more.
Remember, Israel has invaded a fledgling democracy that is still struggling to emerge from the shadow of Syria. This is a country that was hailed only a few short months ago as a shining example of the Lebanese people choosing democracy over foreign military occupation. Yet President Bush quickly turned on Lebanon to support Israel's right to self-defense. This could be a very costly decision.
The weak Lebanese government may be toppled by this war launched by Israel. What's going to replace it? Has President Bush or the Israeli Prime Minister considered that?
Israel should limit itself to fighting Hezbollah and Hamas, and the U.S. should be insisting on that point instead of handing the Israelis a blank check and a permission slip to do what it wants in the name of self-defense.
One has to wonder why the Israelis targeted a power plant in Gaza and why the fledgling democratic Lebanese government has been targeted by Israeli bombs and missiles. Israel knows where Hezbollah is firing their rockets from, and they also know where Hamas is doing it from as well. Yet Israeli bombs and missiles are hitting civilian targets as well as legitimate terrorist targets in both Gaza and in Lebanon.
By the way, the power plant that was destroyed in Gaza was insured....by a U.S. government agency. So the U.S. taxpayer will be replacing the plant that Israel wrecked.
And why isn't the U.S. offering alternative U.N. Security Council resolutions to the ones that have been proposed so far? Lebanon is asking for a cease-fire, which the Israelis and the U.S. both rejected. What does Lebanon have to do, offer to unconditionally surrender to beg Israel to stop targeting civilian assets?
Israel does have a right to defend itself, but not to punish noncombatant civilians who have nothing to do with Israel's missing soldiers. Bombing civilian airports, power plants, bridges, and roads to hurt Hezbollah actually hurts ordinary civilians more.
Remember, Israel has invaded a fledgling democracy that is still struggling to emerge from the shadow of Syria. This is a country that was hailed only a few short months ago as a shining example of the Lebanese people choosing democracy over foreign military occupation. Yet President Bush quickly turned on Lebanon to support Israel's right to self-defense. This could be a very costly decision.
The weak Lebanese government may be toppled by this war launched by Israel. What's going to replace it? Has President Bush or the Israeli Prime Minister considered that?
Israel should limit itself to fighting Hezbollah and Hamas, and the U.S. should be insisting on that point instead of handing the Israelis a blank check and a permission slip to do what it wants in the name of self-defense.
Friday, July 07, 2006
U.N. Security Council Needs Major Housecleaning: Five Permanent Seats Should Be Turned Into Rotating Seats
The United Nations Security Council is cracking again, and it's because of the veto-holding members who hold the permanent seats.
Three permanent members of the council plus the majority of the non-permanent member states want sanctions against North Korea for their reckless firing of ICBMs and Scud-type missiles, but Russia and China don't. And because they don't, the motion auto-fails.
Here we go again with the Security Council quivering under stress.
They really need to look at permanently abolishing the permanent seats on the Security Council and replacing them with rotating seats so that they match the rest of the council. A two thirds majority should be able to pass motions pertaining to things like North Korean aggression and dealing with issues like Darfur or Rwanda.
The Russians and Chinese refusing to budge on North Korea is simply another indication that the Security Council needs to be revamped.
Three permanent members of the council plus the majority of the non-permanent member states want sanctions against North Korea for their reckless firing of ICBMs and Scud-type missiles, but Russia and China don't. And because they don't, the motion auto-fails.
Here we go again with the Security Council quivering under stress.
They really need to look at permanently abolishing the permanent seats on the Security Council and replacing them with rotating seats so that they match the rest of the council. A two thirds majority should be able to pass motions pertaining to things like North Korean aggression and dealing with issues like Darfur or Rwanda.
The Russians and Chinese refusing to budge on North Korea is simply another indication that the Security Council needs to be revamped.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
North Korean Counterfeiting of U.S. Money Deserves Sanctions: Kim Jong-Il's Government Doesn't Deserve to Exist
North Korea's protesting U.S. economic policy toward them is laughable. They brought U.S. ire down on themselves.
Pyongyang suspended it's participation in six-nation nuclear talks because of their anger with the U.S. government going after international banks that were aiding and abetting North Korean government counterfeiting of U.S. dollars among other things.
In fact, the recent changes in how our money looks is an effort to curb North Korean counterfeiting of U.S. dollars. So the next time you have an orange-back $10 bill in your hand, it's (in large part) because of North Korea's illegal activities.
Kim Jong-Il's officials use their counterfeit U.S. money to maintain an extravagant lifestyle while their destitute people STARVE to death.
This North Korean government must disappear from the face of the Earth and it's members prosecuted for allowing so many of their own people to suffer and die while Kim Jong-Il and his brood get fat at the costly expense of so many others.
Here's a historical context to put this in as provided by Claudia Rosett of USA Today in Friday's USA Today:
In 1994, when Kim Jong Il took over from his late father, North Korea was pursuing the nuclear bomb. Hoping to coax Kim into the civilized fold, the United States led the way in setting up a nuclear-freeze deal, in which a consortium of nations sent North Korea fuel and food, and began building Kim two modern nuclear reactors.
Pyongyang suspended it's participation in six-nation nuclear talks because of their anger with the U.S. government going after international banks that were aiding and abetting North Korean government counterfeiting of U.S. dollars among other things.
In fact, the recent changes in how our money looks is an effort to curb North Korean counterfeiting of U.S. dollars. So the next time you have an orange-back $10 bill in your hand, it's (in large part) because of North Korea's illegal activities.
Kim Jong-Il's officials use their counterfeit U.S. money to maintain an extravagant lifestyle while their destitute people STARVE to death.
This North Korean government must disappear from the face of the Earth and it's members prosecuted for allowing so many of their own people to suffer and die while Kim Jong-Il and his brood get fat at the costly expense of so many others.
Here's a historical context to put this in as provided by Claudia Rosett of USA Today in Friday's USA Today:
In 1994, when Kim Jong Il took over from his late father, North Korea was pursuing the nuclear bomb. Hoping to coax Kim into the civilized fold, the United States led the way in setting up a nuclear-freeze deal, in which a consortium of nations sent North Korea fuel and food, and began building Kim two modern nuclear reactors.
Kim pocketed the aid for his military, starved to death an estimated 1 to 2 million North Koreans, test-fired a missile in 1998 over Japan, sold missiles to the Middle East and cheated on the nuclear freeze. When U.S. diplomats finally confronted North Korea in 2002 over its secret uranium enrichment program, Kim's regime declared it had every right to nuclear weapons, fired up its old Yongbyon nuclear plant, renounced the non-proliferation treaty, threatened the United States, Japan and South Korea with a "sea of fire" and "total war," and in 2004 invited a U.S. delegation to come gaze upon a sample of plutonium.
The U.N. Security Council ought to get busy and start securing North Korea's cooperation by any means necessary. And if that means imposing sanctions, then they should DO IT!Wednesday, July 05, 2006
North Korea Launches Seventh Missile Today; More Expected
International outrage is continuing to grow over North Korea's missile barrage that has taken place over the course of two days. The U.N. Security Council is meeting at this hour to decide what to do about North Korea's blatant act of aggression.
A seventh missile was launched today.
It's become apparent that North Korea should be completely disarmed as they are too immature to be trusted with ANY military equipment. Why do they need a 900,000-man army? To enslave their own people? To stop a South Korean invasion? To aid in Afghanistan or Iraq? NOT!!
They should be putting all their military money into buying fuel and food for their starving masses instead of buying armor and armament.
North Korea is it's own worst enemy and that scenario is playing out right in front of us. Their stunt is going to backfire.
A seventh missile was launched today.
It's become apparent that North Korea should be completely disarmed as they are too immature to be trusted with ANY military equipment. Why do they need a 900,000-man army? To enslave their own people? To stop a South Korean invasion? To aid in Afghanistan or Iraq? NOT!!
They should be putting all their military money into buying fuel and food for their starving masses instead of buying armor and armament.
North Korea is it's own worst enemy and that scenario is playing out right in front of us. Their stunt is going to backfire.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
North Korean Missile Launches Continue
Unbelievable...North Korea launched a sixth missile 30 minutes ago.
They're in so much trouble already and they're still firing away.
They're in so much trouble already and they're still firing away.
Missiles Fly over Sea of Japan: North Korea Launches Combination of Medium and Long Range Missiles
The little North Korean runt Kim Jong Il is acting up again, defying the international community and test-firing an ICBM as well as a number of shorter-range missiles to act as decoys.
The ICBM exploded 35-40 seconds after launch, but it doesn't really matter. North Korea is going to get slapped around now via economic sanctions and other non-military means.
It's good that the missile malfunctioned and didn't crash down on Japanese territory. The repercussions would have been grave as the Japanese might have retaliated by launching air strikes against the base from which the missile had originated, as would have been their right.
The other missiles splashed down in the sea of Japan some 300+ miles off the coast of Japan.
This was clearly planned to coincide with our Independence Day celebrations, though the launch of the shuttle Discovery was not something that the North Koreans anticipated. But the North Koreans probably saw that as icing on the cake. But if they're looking for a comparison of their rocket technology to ours, then they have quite a ways to go if their rocket exploding was any indication.
No North Korean runt will rain on our parade. North Korea will get slapped around by it's neighbors and the U.N. while our Independence Day fireworks will go on as scheduled.
North Korea's splash was only as big as their missile hitting the water.
The ICBM exploded 35-40 seconds after launch, but it doesn't really matter. North Korea is going to get slapped around now via economic sanctions and other non-military means.
It's good that the missile malfunctioned and didn't crash down on Japanese territory. The repercussions would have been grave as the Japanese might have retaliated by launching air strikes against the base from which the missile had originated, as would have been their right.
The other missiles splashed down in the sea of Japan some 300+ miles off the coast of Japan.
This was clearly planned to coincide with our Independence Day celebrations, though the launch of the shuttle Discovery was not something that the North Koreans anticipated. But the North Koreans probably saw that as icing on the cake. But if they're looking for a comparison of their rocket technology to ours, then they have quite a ways to go if their rocket exploding was any indication.
No North Korean runt will rain on our parade. North Korea will get slapped around by it's neighbors and the U.N. while our Independence Day fireworks will go on as scheduled.
North Korea's splash was only as big as their missile hitting the water.
Discovery Lifts Off from Florida: So Far, So Good
NASA successfully launched space shuttle Discovery this afternoon. At first look, there appeared to be no damage done to the shuttle, though there was foam falloff as expected. NASA engineers are looking over tons of camera footage to make certain that it will be safe for Discovery to return to Earth safely in two weeks.
They really need to get the foam inside the tank somehow; that would eliminate this needless risk from a shuttle program that already has enough risks that go along with it.
Congratulations to NASA on a spectacular 4th of July launch.
They really need to get the foam inside the tank somehow; that would eliminate this needless risk from a shuttle program that already has enough risks that go along with it.
Congratulations to NASA on a spectacular 4th of July launch.
Happy Independence Day
Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July!
Remember...drinking and fireworks definitely don't mix.
Remember...drinking and fireworks definitely don't mix.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Surprise, Surprise: NASA Engineers Find Five Inch Crack in Discovery's External Fuel Tank Foam
The space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank foam is cracking and it hasn't even launched yet.
Are NASA managers getting the message yet? FIX THE PROBLEM.
Are NASA managers getting the message yet? FIX THE PROBLEM.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
NASA Delays Shuttle Launch a Second Time; NASA Still Has Time to Stop a Terrible Mistake From Happening
Follow the train of thought, if you will.
If you put a fox into a henhouse, he's going to have chicken for dinner EVERY time.
If you don't fix a recurring problem on a space shuttle blasting it's way out of the Earth's atmosphere, the problem will be repeated EVERY time.
So why is NASA insisting on putting the shuttle into space without solving the problem of foam coming off the external fuel tank? As things stand right now, the foam will begin falling off as soon as there is upward thrust from the solid rocket boosters. A one-pound piece of foam hit the Columbia at over 500mph and blew a hole in the shuttle's wing, compromising the heat shield and dooming the shuttle. Discovery narrowly avoided the same fate last year when foam came off the fuel tank but just missed hitting the spacecraft.
NASA is rushing into things and endangering the entire shuttle program. If the Discovery is lost, they're going to start dismantling the shuttles Atlantis and the Endeavor before the day is out.
The new safety features that they've installed on the Discovery will keep the crew alive this time, but still, what happens if the Discovery is damaged and they have to send up the Atlantis on a rescue mission and that spacecraft gets damaged by the foam falloff problem? Are they going to rush the Endeavor back into service to bring back TWO shuttle crews knowing that the foam could strike and cripple Endeavor too? And will there be enough food and air on the International Space Station to support THREE shuttle crews who are trapped in space?
The chance of all this happening is remote, but if Discovery is deemed unsafe for atmospheric interface due to foam compromising the shuttle's structural integrity, they have already stated that they will send Atlantis up on a rescue mission within 25 days; there's no way that they can diagnose the problem and fix it in that time.
If the engineers think they need more time to fix the problem, NASA should give it to them.
If you put a fox into a henhouse, he's going to have chicken for dinner EVERY time.
If you don't fix a recurring problem on a space shuttle blasting it's way out of the Earth's atmosphere, the problem will be repeated EVERY time.
So why is NASA insisting on putting the shuttle into space without solving the problem of foam coming off the external fuel tank? As things stand right now, the foam will begin falling off as soon as there is upward thrust from the solid rocket boosters. A one-pound piece of foam hit the Columbia at over 500mph and blew a hole in the shuttle's wing, compromising the heat shield and dooming the shuttle. Discovery narrowly avoided the same fate last year when foam came off the fuel tank but just missed hitting the spacecraft.
NASA is rushing into things and endangering the entire shuttle program. If the Discovery is lost, they're going to start dismantling the shuttles Atlantis and the Endeavor before the day is out.
The new safety features that they've installed on the Discovery will keep the crew alive this time, but still, what happens if the Discovery is damaged and they have to send up the Atlantis on a rescue mission and that spacecraft gets damaged by the foam falloff problem? Are they going to rush the Endeavor back into service to bring back TWO shuttle crews knowing that the foam could strike and cripple Endeavor too? And will there be enough food and air on the International Space Station to support THREE shuttle crews who are trapped in space?
The chance of all this happening is remote, but if Discovery is deemed unsafe for atmospheric interface due to foam compromising the shuttle's structural integrity, they have already stated that they will send Atlantis up on a rescue mission within 25 days; there's no way that they can diagnose the problem and fix it in that time.
If the engineers think they need more time to fix the problem, NASA should give it to them.
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