GOP choices

Looks like the GOP and its talking heads will be displaying their “He did too little” placards rather than their “He went too far” ones.  God Bless our President.

Syrian intervention

The issue of punishing the use of Sarin gas in Syria is serious but also a conundrum.  I am pleased the President put the monkey on Congress’ back, for he was targeted for blame whatever direction he chose.  The intelligence is something to which I am not fully privy.  Many question the accuracy of our intel.  The sectarian violence with Kurds, Shia and Sunni and various tribes all involved is complex to extreme.  Many of the rebels may have Al-Queda ties. But Assad and his family have a history of viciously tamping down any opposition.  The government claims the evidence and circumstances clearly point to the regime’s guilt.  I will leave it to the Congressional groups to judge the accuracy of the intel.  Certainly our allies in the region desire action.  Both Israel (AIPAC too) and the Saudis are seeking our missile justice on Assad.  Iran is part of the equation. 

Our dilemma is that we cannot know the consequences, short term or long term.  Chickens are always far down the way waiting to come to roost in retaliation for actions another generation of Americans will have forgotten.  The rebel forces already resent our hesitation, but what their feelings will be if an errant missile kills their kin is another matter.  Reagan left Lebanon with some salvos from battleships; perhaps we can escape this situation with similar scenarios. I am happy I don’t have to make this decision.  God Bless our President and our representatives as they decide.

Selective info

I chose to watch ABC this evening for the nightly news. I wondered from the outset if they would mention the slaughter by NATO air strike of eleven boys gathering firewood in Afghanistan. It was an obvious lack of discernment on the part of the NATO personnel and drew an apology from General Petraeus. ABC covered Charlie Sheen but never touched on this episode; leaving the American public ignorant of events that could lead to future outrage against our forces. Too often the US public is clueless as to why we find resentments abroad. Get real media!!!

Mubarak

A dictator possesses by nature a great stubbornness. Pride, too, prevents a clear vision.

Suleiman more of same

The Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman’s statement this morning (US-Eastern time) evidences that he is not only not taking the reins but that he is determined to perpetuate the inadequacies of the past several decades.   The medieval behavior of the thugs sent in to quell the reformists crowd shows that “restoring order” probably means procrastinate on reform and identify political enemies for retribution.  The treatment of members of the international press was also evidence that free expression is still discouraged.

Russia not ready

Russia’s not ready to claim a secure place among democratic nations until it shows it will not tolerate the violence against journalists that has raised any ugly presence the past couple days. The abhorrent behavior must be investigated by the authorities and punished severely to show that a free press is a treasure. Business & political corruption are  present in the U.S. too and in many corners of the world, but a press that can expose and freely discuss the corruption is essential.

oxymoronic

In the Jewish oath being debated in Israel, as it is currently worded it is oxymoronic. The juxtaposition of Jewish & democratic doesn’t sync.

history repeats?

The parallels are limited but I’m wondering in the long perspective whether the footnotes of history will be comparable in the effects of the Wikileaks documents now and the Pentagon Papers in the Vietnam era. While the Pentagon Papers were an internally compiled study that was damning in its regard of the war effort, the current documents are said to be in their composite of similar complexion.

Nobel champions Hope

While there was widespread surprise at Barack Obama’s receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize, he himself recognized the reasoning behind it. He represents a restoration of Hope. His campaign and its rhetoric have ended an era of shocking conceit and awesome disregard for truth. His type of leadership offers a path to healing. Consultation and cooperation are once again chosen over unilateral force. As impatient criticisms appear he toils on with no premature “Mission Accomplished” proclamations.
He recognized in his reaction remarks today people like Neda Agha-Soltan and Aung San Suu Kyi. He realizes he is an agent of progress, a comrade to these courageous people who can be served through his position of power.
Let the cynics rave. The man is the message. Might has not made right.

freedom suppressed in Iran

We see from the recent Khamenei speech that democracy is indeed taboo in Iran. Staff of both Mehdi Karroubi & Mir Hussein Moussavi have been either arrested or harassed. More stringent action are now threatened. The eyes of the world must be kept focused on Iran and its abusiveness of its own citizenry. We must however be careful not to elicit actions that would bring disaster as we did upon the Shia of Iraq in the early ’90s when we encouraged revolt and then provided no assistance.