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Russia is literally dying. Their beirthrate is 9.95/100 and their death rate is 14.65 per thousand.Per Capita GDP ranks below those /sarcam on economic powerhouses Libya and Croatia /sarcasm off at a whopping $11,100 per year.
Russia ranks slightly ahead of Brazil,Canada and Mexico in total GDP.
The only thing that would keep me awake at night about Russia is it's substantial arms industry.
Russia is awash in energy revenues at a time when for the foreseeable future and beyond, energy prices will only rise as demand surges in China, India and elsewhere. Putin and beyond, you're assuming that a wise (or even a gradual yet still focused) investment in health and social infrastructure could not BEGIN to turn the tide of the terrible health of Russians (especially males and women who are having multiple abortions). Mark Steyn and the CIA get it right now and then, but I somehow doubt Russia's population will contract that much in the future.
Besides, that very scenario should be highly worrisome to the US. Such a state of affairs would be almost too good to be true for the Chinese, who would be understandably tempted into making their peaceful (by Chinese immigration) invasion of Siberia and other farflung provinces of Russia something more lasting and easier to manage to Chinese affinities. Such territorial adventurism could invite a nuclear conflict between Russia and China, or at best a serious border war that would involve the US in some fashion.
Not to mention all the various terror and Islamic tribal groups along and within Russia's southern territories that could wreak havoc and turmoil in that part of the world against substantialy weakened Russian security and military forces.
My point is not to paint Russia as a reemerging USSR, a dire threat to the US.
Really, in this age of asymetrical warfare and high-stakes diplomacy, we shouldn't be worried about a "peer competitor" anyway, but a group of reasonably influential nations opposed to US policy aims and interests.
So its a matter of "have we lost Russia?" for good, or can we still win her back, or at least come to a general understanding of common ground we can continue to work and make progress from?
Russia is literally dying. Their beirthrate is 9.95/100 and their death rate is 14.65 per thousand.
Per Capita GDP ranks below those /sarcam on economic powerhouses Libya and Croatia /sarcasm off at a whopping $11,100 per year.
Russia ranks slightly ahead of Brazil,Canada and Mexico in total GDP.
The only thing that would keep me awake at night about Russia is it's substantial arms industry.
Noonan, what's your new job again?
I bath and manicure the aliens at area 51.
Noonan, what's your new job again?
It's not this, is it?
Automated Ontologically-Based Link Analysis of International Web Logs for the Timely Discovery of Relevant and Credible InformationThat’s the name of the study. $450,000 for three years.
Or are you the *subject*...?
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research recently began funding a new research area that includes a study of blogs. Blog research may provide information analysts and warfighters with invaluable help in fighting the war on terrorism.
Interested? Read the rest over at America's Northshore Journal.
PINR adds detail to the latest Putin "evolution" in Russia: the reemergence of Russia as a major player on the world stage. It details Russia's partnership with Syria (first noted by John Noonan earlier this month) and its developing "return" to the Middle East.
Is the West (especially America?) guilty of ill-timed Russophobia? . Are we missing the signs from Putin somehow? Wouldn't a stable but less democratic (than most of us would prefer) Russia a better bet for investment, partnership and planning in the "Long War" than a messy democracy populated by obligrachs, arch-nationalists, kleptocrats, fascists and communists (the Russia of the 90's and 4/5 of the opposition to Putin at this point)?
Yet a Russia that emboldens Iran, coddles Syria and seems to act in conflict with US interests across the globe is disturbing. That's the reality now, and the question I pose for my fellow MIlBloggers is:
"How do we react?" Do we try to recouncile our positions with Russia now while Putin is in office, wait till he (reportedly) leaves office in 2008 and hope for the best or prepare ourselves for a future with Russia at best an adversary in diplomatic/influence circles and at worst a potential military adversary in Central Asia and the Black Sea region?
BEIJI, Iraq - Five U.S. Army soldiers are being investigated for allegedly raping a young woman, then killing her and three members of her family in Iraq, a U.S. military official told The Associated Press on Friday...{snippage}
...However, a U.S. official close to the investigation said at least one of the soldiers, all assigned to the 502nd Infantry Regiment, has admitted his role and has been arrested. Two soldiers from the same regiment were slain this month when they were kidnapped at a checkpoint near Youssifiyah.
At least four other soldiers have had their weapons taken away and are confined to Forward Operating Base Mahmoudiyah south of Baghdad. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.
If they're guilty, the impact of their actions upon the mission in Iraq must be a consideration in the punishment phase. Simply must.
"Please go read the news. And would somebody tell the Europeans to stop looking over my shoulder, they are wearing me out here."
Here is another on of those only in Korea stories for everyone. What does the USFK command do to their biggest pro-American supporters in Korea? Piss them off of course.
The Supreme Court has ruled in Hamdan that the military commissions set up to try enemy combatants are unlawful. (link is to opinion in PDF form)
All sorts of opinion-y goodness after the jump:
The missing VA laptop has been recovered. The investigation continues.
Andy McCarthy at NRO:
Unfortunately, I'm going to be out-of-pocket for most of today, so I'll miss a lot of the post-mortem if the decision comes down. For pre-mortem, though, I've been poking around, and it seems like there's a prevailing view that if — as expected — the decision comes out in favor of Hamdan, the theory will be that al Qaeda does have Geneva Convention protections.And here's our own Army Lawyer on article 3.
Bottom line, the final score from today's world cup is -
Osama bin Laden's chauffeur: 1
Donald Rumsfeld: 0
As with most earlier matches, you can expect the pundits to blame the refs.
Not so much for the guy on the left, as the guy on the right. The guy on the left gets plenty of attention.
Staff Sgt. Christian Bagge, who lost both legs in Iraq last year when a roadside bomb hit his Humvee, runs with President Bush June 27 on the South Lawn of the White House. Photo by William Moss.
Today is the fourth anniversary of the 2002 West Sea Naval Battle. For those of you not familiar with the battle let me recap it for you.
In June of 2002, one day before the closing ceremony of the World Cup in Korea, the North Koreans tried to draw attention from all the glory South Korea had been receiving from their amazing World Cup performance and hosting of the World Cup that year by prevoking a naval battle in the West Sea. The North Koreans planned for and executed a premeditated ambush of a South Korean patrol boat. In the ensueing clash six South Korean sailors were killed and 18 more were wounded.
This tragedy of the murdered sailors was bad enough for those left behind, but to make things worse for the victims and their families the South Korean government did everything possible to keep the grieving families quiet because they didn't want to upset the Sunshine Policy with North Korea. So while the government did everything possible to incite protests over the US Army armored vehicle accident that killed two Korean school girls earlier that month, the government in turn did nothing to address the premeditated murder of six sailors by the North Koreans.
Smash, you dog! How'd you scam that?
Congratulations and get some.
The claim just made by a spokesman from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades that they had fired a chemical-tipped rocket into Israel has got to be the worst military "propaganda" move ever.
GAZA (Reuters) - A spokesman for gunmen in the Gaza Strip said they had fired a rocket tipped with a chemical warhead at Israel early on Thursday.Generally, spokesman don't want to tell outright lies that serve only to 1) piss off your enemies, 2) make your supporters look stupid by celebrating the news, and 3) turn anyone who might be tempted to support you away from your cause.
The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the claim by the spokesman from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement.
"The al-Aqsa Brigades have fired one rocket with a chemical warhead" at southern Israel, Abu Qusai, a spokesman for the group, said in Gaza...
...An Israeli military spokeswoman said the army had not detected that any such rocket was fired, nor was there any report of such a weapon hitting Israel.
Of course, I suppose one could say that technically, because TNT is a chemical, he wasn't *really* lying...
Now might be a good time to regroup. Any takers?
SD is offering a $500 bonus to veterans that meet certain requirements:
Did anyone see this? Despite the Democrats and Hollywood's best efforts to make Americans ashamed of being Americans, Americans overwhelmingly still believe that the United States is still the best country in the world:
When it comes to national pride, Americans are No. 1, according to a survey of 34 countries' patriotism. Venezuela came in a close second in the survey, released Tuesday by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.People rated how proud they were of their countries in 10 areas: political influence, social security, the way their democracy works, economic success, science and technology, sports, arts and literature, military, history, and fair treatment of all groups in society.
In the U.S., "the two things we rank high on are what we think of as the political or power dimension," said Tom W. Smith, a researcher at the university. "Given that we're the one world superpower, it's not that surprising."
Patriotism is mostly a New World concept, the researchers said. Former colonies and newer nations were more likely to rank high on the list, while Western European, East Asian and former socialist countries usually ranked near the middle or bottom.
The U.S. ranked highest overall and in five categories: pride in its democracy, political influence, economy, science and military. Venezuela ranked highest in four categories: sports, arts and literature, history, and fair treatment of all groups in society.
The scary thing from these findings is that Hugo Chavez and Venezuela ranked second. However the things Venezuela ranked first in such as "fair treatment of all groups in society" make me kind of wonder about the criteria of how this survey was initiated.
Heroes.
The Victoria Cross has been awarded for 150 years this year. To commemorate that event, all the living holders of the Victoria and George Crosses (for exceptional heroism not involving direct combat with the enemy) gathered for a ceremony marking the anniversary.
Overheard conversation:
The quiet heroes swapped stories and bonhomie before the ceremonial, which was to be capped by a reception hosted by the prince at St James's Square."How do you keep looking so good?" one VC-wearing old soldier asked his Royal Navy buddy among the GCs.
"Guinness," replied the sailor, "that's my secret: lots of Guinness."
"I'm a Viagra man myself," laughed the soldier, his chest heaving so that those "bits of metal" tinkled merrily.
I suspect Lex will approve.
Read the rest here. You want to. Really.
Jeff Jacoby writes in The Boston Globe about the "blowback" from the recent New York Times exposure of a secret counter-terrorism program.
Central to Jacoby's story is a Letter to Bill Keller, Editor, from one T.F. Boggs, who many here will know as a military blogger, here and elsewhere. Here's TF Boggs' account of writing his letter, and the reaction to it.
Here's TF Boggs' letter, in a nutshell:
Thank you for continually contributing to the deaths of my fellow soldiers.
RIP Sergeant. RIP.
DETROIT (AP) _ A Marine who appeared in Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" has died in Iraq.Staff Sergeant Raymond Plouhar (PLOO'-hahr) was serving as a recruiter in Flint, Michigan, when Moore showed him approaching prospective recruits in a mall parking lot. In the film, he said it was "better to get them when they're in ones and twos and work on them that way."
He was working as a recruiter after he'd taken four years off from active duty after donating a kidny to his uncle.
Plouhar appeared willingly in the movie, which criticized President Bush's actions after Nine-Eleven. His father says Plouhar didn't know the film would criticize the war.
The father says he's proud his "son wanted to protect the freedom of this country whether we all agree with the war or not."The Defense Department says Plouhar died of wounds from fighting west of Baghdad Monday. He leaves a wife and two kids.
Some relatively current info on Somalia here.
Want a safe prediction? It'll get worse before it gets better. And getting worse in Somalia is tough.
On the positive side, attacks by Somali pirates appear to have slowed to a standstill in recent days.
...when I find myself in agreement with a Sailor (see Salamander below) . It always makes me really examine my arguments for what have to be huge, gaping holes. I don't find any this time, however.
The New York Times introduces their latest defense of the indefensible with a warning, that prior attempts to prosecute the press for disclosing national security secrets did not “turn out well.” In reminiscing about the Pentagon Papers, the editors of the Times reveal the template they’ve used all along in fighting the Bush Administration in their proxy war-against-the-war.
It’s just like Vietnam. That’s why we had to blow the whistle on this whole spying thing. “That damned Johnson,” as Jenny’s irresponsible peacenik squeeze in Forrest Gump said, in excusing his own tawdry and reprehensible behavior.
Whether the war in Iraq, or the broader Global War on Terror, the Times can’t seem to make up its mind. They’re one and the same, so let’s fight against both as a “war based on lies.” Or they’re not the same, so why is the Bush Administration getting distracted from Bin Laden and Al Qaeda with this nation building in Iraq?
An amendment against flag desecration is not worthy of a great nation that values the right to be wrong. Remember, next time the wrong might be you. Well, that is my take.
Is it weird that my old non-anonymous civilian blog got linked today by Hugh Hewitt, Captain's Quarters, Michelle Malkin, PoliPundit, AND FreeRepublic, today?
All for a post over 2 years old. Outstandingly weird.
(I'm not pointing to the particular post, gotta try to keep SOME attempt of anonymity)
Dan of TDAXP has the details on a San Diego court decision to force the city of San Diego to destroy a historic Korean War memorial because it is a cross. Its times like this when I understand why some folks take the issue of judicial activists and federal judges so seriously.
Blogger extraordinaire from Gut Rumbles has lost his battle. May peace find Rob now.
His wit and charm will be missed.
Godspeed, Acidman
In the H&I post today, I discussed the upcoming budget crunches and ways they are going to be met. Mostly by mortgaging the future, and the warriors, to meet them.
Here's a little insider email running around the opinion makers of the retired General Officer corps, from former Army Chief of Staff Gordon Sullivan.
Friends---I have been observing very carefully the ongoing saga regarding the approval of the Supplemental for 2006. What my analysis suggests to me is the signals for the future of our Army are not good. Oh, I know there are many in town who will tell you that it is too soon to tell how things will evolve but I see too many signals to conclude otherwise. Needless to say this bothers me because by any measurement the Army as an institution has accomplished every mission it has been assigned. Furthermore, the leadership has looked to the future in a very enlightened and programmatic way which suggests to me a forward look which is both imaginative and practical. Yet the near future funding profile is beginning to look and smell a lot like what we lived through in the early 90's when Army leaders were forced to dramatically reduce the size of the Army, increase mission responsiveness and attempt to move onto the information age while being told we were in a strategic pause and fiscal resources available to the DOD would be used to fund other programs which I feel are nice to have, but not required. Just my opinion.Think about what our Army leaders and Soldiers have set in motion and are accomplishing:
Posted at 1854Z
The past couple weeks I found myself with a computer but no internet access. Besides watching World Cup on AFN, I passed some time with an old favorite - Civilization II. Best computer strategy game ever. X-Com was a close second.
Many of us who have been in since the "Cold War" remember certain things when we hear the term "Threat" used - I, myself, still see a vast, green clad, red star wearing horde climbing into BMPs and T-72s...
Apprently, a new "Threat" faces us all.
From today's Stand-to:
In dealing with Islamic extremists, the West may be giving them the advantage due to cultural ignorance, maintain Dr. Douglas E. Streusand and Army Lt. Col. Harry D. Tunnell IV. The men work at the National Defense University at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C.
Okay. So, whattaya mean, fellas?
A case in point is the term "jihadist." Many leaders use the term jihadist or jihadi as a synonym for Islamic extremist. Jihad has been commonly adapted in English as meaning "holy war." But to Muslims it means much more. In their article, Steusand and Tunnell said in Arabic - the language of the Koran - jihad "literally means striving and generally occurs as part of the expression 'jihad fi sabil illah,' striving in the path of God."This is a good thing for all Muslims. "Calling our enemies jihadis and their movement a global jihad thus indicates that we recognize their doctrines and actions as being in the path of God and, for Muslims, legitimate," they wrote. By countering jihadis, the West and moderate Muslims are enemies of true Islam.
The men asked Muslim scholars what the correct term for Islamic extremists would be and they came up with "hirabah." This word specifically refers to those engaged in sinful warfare, warfare contrary to Islamic law. "We should describe the Islamic totalitarian movement as the global hirabah, not the global jihad," they wrote.
jihadist Hirabah.
Another word constantly misused in the West is mujahdeen. Again, in American dictionaries this word refers to a holy warrior - again a good thing. So calling an al Qaeda terrorist a mujahid legitimizes him.The correct term for these killers is "mufsidun," Streusand and Tunnell say. This refers to an evil or corrupt person. "There is no moral ambiguity and the specific denotation of corruption carries enormous weight in most of the Islamic world," they wrote.
mujahideen mufsidun. Okay.
I'll be implementing this at Castle Argghhh! (to include, over time, editing the archives).
Sonny of FX-Based , an Air Force blogger, has a series of posts up in response to Ralph Peters' criticism of EBO. They can be found here , here and here.
As with all good debates, others stepped in and some counterpoints with regards to EBO were made by Kingdaddy at Arms and Influence.
There's nothing like a good, spirited debate, and Ralph Peters (hate him or love him, or somewhere in between) specializes (gleefully I think) in provoking them in public apperances, lengthy essays and even short NY Post columns.
I don't want to rain on anyones parade but -
DOD Directive 1344.10 Enclosure E-3
E3.3. EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED POLITICAL ACTIVITIESIn accordance with the statutory restrictions in 10 U.S.C. 973(b) (reference (b)) and references (g) and (h), and the policies established in section 4., above, of this Directive, a member on active duty shall not:
E3.3.6. Allow or cause to be published partisan political articles signed or written by the member that solicits votes for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.
Working well within the boundries reviewed by ArmyLawyer, it is all rather simple. In a Representative Republic, if you like someone you support their campaign.
If you do not, you support their opponent. Did you know Rep. Murtha has one? Her name is Diana Irey.
Cross posted at CDR Salamander.
Well, it's an election year, and as both of my readers are presumably politically (and militarily) inclined, I, as a truly minor service, figured I'd lay out some of the rules regarding political activity that govern the military.
Peters has effective company with Dr. Milan Vego, who takes EBO and tears a giant gaping hole in it (pdf) for the current Joint Forces Quarterly. Vego is pretty clear about when the EBO idea has value as he sees it, and then lobs ordnance for many pages.
I SWEAR John & I didn't speak before we let loose on Keller......
Just released, Treasury Sec. John Snow writes a very strong letter to NY Times editor about terror finance surveillance...
Mr. Bill Keller, Managing Editor The New York Times 229 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036Dear Mr. Keller:
The New York Times' decision to disclose the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program, a robust and classified effort to map terrorist networks through the use of financial data, was irresponsible and harmful to the security of Americans and freedom-loving people worldwide. In choosing to expose this program, despite repeated pleas from high-level officials on both sides of the aisle, including myself, the Times undermined a highly successful counter-terrorism program and alerted terrorists to the methods and sources used to track their money trails.
Your charge that our efforts to convince The New York Times not to publish were "half-hearted" is incorrect and offensive. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Over the past two months, Treasury has engaged in a vigorous dialogue with the Times - from the reporters writing the story to the D.C. Bureau Chief and all the way up to you. It should also be noted that the co-chairmen of the bipartisan 9-11 Commission, Governor Tom Kean and Congressman Lee Hamilton, met in person or placed calls to the very highest levels of the Times urging the paper not to publish the story. Members of Congress, senior U.S. Government officials and well-respected legal authorities from both sides of the aisle also asked the paper not to publish or supported the legality and validity of the program.
Indeed, I invited you to my office for the explicit purpose of talking you out of publishing this story. And there was nothing "half-hearted" about that effort. I told you about the true value of the program in defeating terrorism and sought to impress upon you the harm that would occur from its disclosure. I stressed that the program is grounded on solid legal footing, had many built-in safeguards, and has been extremely valuable in the war against terror.
Additionally, Treasury Under Secretary Stuart Levey met with the reporters and your senior editors to answer countless questions, laying out the legal framework and diligently outlining the multiple safeguards and protections that are in place.
You have defended your decision to compromise this program by asserting that "terror financiers know" our methods for tracking their funds and have already moved to other methods to send money. The fact that your editors believe themselves to be qualified to assess how terrorists are moving money betrays a breathtaking arrogance and a deep misunderstanding of this program and how it works. While terrorists are relying more heavily than before on cumbersome methods to move money, such as cash couriers, we have continued to see them using the formal financial system, which has made this particular program incredibly valuable.
Lastly, justifying this disclosure by citing the "public interest" in knowing information about this program means the paper has given itself free license to expose any covert activity that it happens to learn of - even those that are legally grounded, responsibly administered, independently overseen, and highly effective. Indeed, you have done so here.
What you've seemed to overlook is that it is also a matter of public interest that we use all means available - lawfully and responsibly - to help protect the American people from the deadly threats of terrorists. I am deeply disappointed in the New York Times.
Sincerely,
[signed]
John W. Snow, Secretary
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Two Navy F/A-18 Hornets from VFA-125, stationed out of NAS Lemoore, were involved in a "mishap" today near Jolon, CA (about halfway up the coast between LA and San Fran). One pilot died, and the other ejected and was recovered in good condition. The accident occurred at the Ft. Hunter-Liggett military training area.
No word yet on the cause of the crash, but normally a "mishap" that involves the loss of two planes is a collision. One thing that really impressed me when I was working with the aviators during my carrier tour was how seriously they take their mishap investigations; hopefully they'll be able to figure out what happened here, and keep it from happening again. In the meantime, I'm sure the entire squadron is focused on the loss of their fellow aviator and what they can do for his family. (That was another thing that impressed me about the aviators when I worked with them -- they had the right priorities when it came to dealing with losses like this.)
He doesn't get a firm grip on EBO (Effects Based Operations), but he gets hold of enough to make a mark.
Oh, and a last note on Effects-Based Operations: Any combat doctrine that cannot be explained clearly and concisely will fail.As and extra bonus; as usual, when Ralph goes on a rant, he puts on a good show - taking all sorts of stuff along for the ride.
Yet, EBO also reflects a recurring American delusion — the notion that, if only we can discover it, there must be a formula for winning wars on the cheap. EBO and other schemes for sterilized techno-wars have surprisingly deep roots in our military culture — the American vines were grafted onto diseased European root stocks.Ralph, you are one angry Intel Weenie. Go get' em.
7,000 strong in West Africa in a likely preview of the kinds of missions they will face in the next likely battlespace in the "Long War".
Exercise "Steadfast Jaguar" is billed as a crucial test for the new NATO Response Force -- a spearhead unit designed for rapid deployment around the world for missions ranging from humanitarian relief to lightning combat strikes.Although NATO pulls out of Cape Verde on June 28, the two-week maneuvers have highlighted questions about a possible wider role for the alliance in West Africa.
The region is rife with the sort of modern threats that NATO aims to confront -- from the surge in illegal immigration to Europe, to narco-trafficking, regional conflicts and the risk of disrupted of oil supplies from the Gulf of Guinea.
The jihadist foe doesn't have access to operational and strategic intelligence. They've got limited budgets, they're always on the move, you just can't get good satellite in a Waziristan cave.
And Bill Keller, editor-in-chief of the New York Times, doesn't think that's fair.
The possibility of granting amnesty to Iraqis who carried out attacks against American troops has created a bit of an uproar - notably in responses from Senators Carl Levin (D-Mi) and John Warner (R-Va) on Fox News Sunday.
Levin's comment seems the most widely quoted:
For heaven's sake, we liberated that country. We got rid of a horrific dictator. We've paid a tremendous price. More than 2,500 Americans have given up their lives. The idea that they should even consider talking about amnesty for people who have killed people who liberated their country is unconscionable.Tough talk- but sadly lacking in a counter proposal. What exactly should the Iraqi's do? Should they track down each and every person who ever planted an IED, arrest them and provide a fair trial and execution? While I understand the impulse to "destroy the enemy" that Levin seems to be voicing here, I support a "defeat the enemy" tactic - and I'm quite certain victory won't be determined by who gets the last kill.
To be fair, after Warner pointed out that Iraqis are running their own country, Levin backpedaled furiously (demonstrating a spinal flexibility bordering on the fluid) - but those additional comments didn't make the soundbites.
Anybody missing a coffin?
TUCSON, June 25 — An empty coffin with a military seal was found in the desert south of Tucson on Saturday, and sheriff's deputies were looking for a body."Obviously it had the smell, and there was other evidence that it had been inhabited recently," Deputy Dawn Barkman said Sunday.
Forensic investigators took DNA samples, and a nationwide alert was issued in hopes of finding who had been in the coffin, Deputy Barkman said.
Deputies were called to a desert area near Interstate 10 after two people playing paintball discovered the coffin, Deputy Barkman said. The coffin was metallic silver with a United States Army insignia on it, she said.
"We have a lot of cemeteries, but it could be from anywhere," Deputy Barkman said. "Right now we don't have any concrete information where it came from."
Bruce Kesler says that he doesn't want to be a Military Blogger and explains why in a column today at The Examiner.
(Much to the chagrin of readers everywhere, my week-long vacation with my family at Disney World is over. Intentionally disconnected for over a week, the hack is back.)
Public Service Announcement:
Bored with the same old dull, sit-in-chairs-listening-to-bloggers-earnestly-discuss-how-important-they-are kind of conference? (Hey, I was there, I was as self-important as anyone, and lord the Press made sure we knew about YearlyKOS!)
Interested in attending about the most dangerous gathering of bloggers since YearlyKos? The Gunblogger Rendevous! Well, dangerous if you're Sarah Brady, or The Senators SchuBoxerClinStein The pic says it all!. C'mon, Blogs, guns, booze, and gambling. Pretty much what we're fighting for around the globe, ain't it? At least *the bad guys" think so.
SWWBO and I are going to try to be there, too - client willing and the creek don't rise.
H/t to Ride Fast and Shoot Straight for the pic.
Some how I doubt they are talking about an export agreement for kimchi:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a fierce critic of the United States, said Saturday he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Observers speculate that ideas for cooperation between the two countries could include an oil-for-missiles deal.Chavez, who has mentioned plans to visit North Korea several times, told reporters the trip would be about bilateral agreements in technology and science. He did not specify a date.
Oil for missiles anyone?
This article from the International Herald Tribune describes the many problems integrating North Korean refugees who have defected from the North through China into South Korean society the past few years. The differences in political and economic systems plus discrimination from South Koreans who look down on their Northern bretheren contributes to the problem of integrating North Korean refugees. This quote from a North Korean refugee best explains their largest hurdle. The change in ideology:
"In North Korea, if you were loyal to the system, you were provided a job and housing, and your needs were met," added Lee, who has held so many jobs in the South that his friends have nicknamed him MacGyver, after the resourceful television character. "But here in South Korea, individuals have to take responsibility and create their own system."
Grrrr...
To Bill Keller and the New York Times: JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE??Who died and left you, um, President? You hold no elected or appointed office that allows you to “oversee” anything. It’s why the constitution grants the powers to the PRESIDENT… and the Congress… and the Judiciary. Here's news for you, Bill: newspaper editor is not among those we count on or elect to protect our security.
You should be made to hear the sobbing of the mothers and wives and families of the service members who are out there putting it on the line protecting your right to write the crap you do and know that perhaps the one transaction that was not seen because of your “exposé” bought the bullets that killed their son or husband.
ok, so I'm a bit riled again... at my place...
Here is an excerpt from the leading South Korean daily newspaper the Chosun Ilbo that best describes why South Korea gets highly concerned when US government official start talking about bombing North Korea:
The precariousness of the security situation in Korea is expressed in an op-ed column in the Thursday issue of the Washington Post, written by William Perry and Ashton Carter, who were secretary and assistant secretary of Defense under president Clinton. "If North Korea persists in its launch preparations, the United States should immediately make clear its intention to strike and destroy the North Korean Taepodong missile before it can be launched," they said. "North Korea could respond to U.S. resolve by taking the drastic step of threatening all-out war on the Korean Peninsula. But it is unlikely to act on that threat. An invasion of South Korea would bring about the certain end of Kim Jong-il's regime within a few bloody weeks of war, as surely he knows."Perry and Carter casually mention "a few bloody weeks of war," but that could indeed turn the Korean Peninsula into a "sea of fire." Millions of people in the two Koreas could be killed. It is unbelievable that Perry, who served as North Korea nuclear coordinator under Clinton, could make such an irresponsible remark.
Just in time to respond to John Murtha's latest outrage, at long last the top 5 John Murtha Inscription Contest entries are in and listed below. To atone for the tardy announcement, all five entrants below will receive an inscribed copy of Home of the Brave.
And now, drum roll, please....
1. To John Murtha,
In hopes that this will help you find what you have lost and remember what you have forgotten.
Semper Fidelis
Posted by SSG K at 1904Z
2. Dear Rep Murtha:
Shut up and read.
Posted by kat-missouri at 2239Z
3. Mr. Murtha,
Let these stories be a reminder of the bravery of those that defend your Freedom of Speech. You know -- the ones that fight to protect your Right to wrong.
Posted by Some Soldier's Mom at 2208Z
4. To John Murtha,
An unhung zero.
Email entry
5. Dear Mr. Murtha,
" It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
" It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
" It is the soldier, not the organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
" It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag."
- Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC
...and it is the soldier, who braves enemy fire to defend freedom, who provides you freedom to fire upon him with political propaganda.
Posted by I. Ronnie at 1434Z
***Winners: email me your preferred mailing address and the name(s) you'd like your book made out to.
Here's your Iraq media vocabulary quiz for the day. Ready?
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's efforts to end terrorist violence in Baghdad are best described as:
a. Bold
b. Belated
c. Effective
d. Draconian
The answer to today's quiz comes from the LA Times:
The trick question about the Korean War - one that used to be taught to all newcomers, wasn't "when did the war begin?" It was "when did the war end?" The answer, of course, was "it hasn't - we're in a lengthy ceasefire" (in which American soldiers have died). I'm not sure how many people are aware of that.
Likewise few people are aware that the US Air Force has been involved in a s
