Random Thoughts: Random thoughts and readings for Feb. 5, 2016

Reminder: Most of the comments below are links to stories being commented upon. I urge you to read the links for background to my commentary.

It seems the new just keeps rolling along … funny about that … that is the way life is … it doesn’t stop for anybody, no matter how much you want it to so you can get off and try to figure out a better way. With that in mind, the old walrus of a news editor offers up this commentary on current events. He hopes you find it informative, educational, possibly inspiring and at least thought-provoking.

Some good advice to veterans out in the civilian world on how they can continue to protect and serve their fellow countrymen ... or is that countrypeople these days?

This article encapsulates just about all the reasons that Bernie Sanders really is just about wrong on just about everything.

This so makes me think of Richard Nixon it isn't even funny. Only, the "everybody did it" defense shouldn't fly. It shouldn't fly for a number of reasons: There is a difference in scale here and intent. There is a difference in the Obama Administration set the bar higher with the prosecution of David Patreaus. We won't mention the prosecution of Scooter Libby. And like Nixon, Hillary got caught, big time ... so, one would think there would be an indictment coming soon ... only I don't expect one because the Justice Department is too politicized now to do it.

Already the flak is going up if Clinton really pushes the everybody does it defense. She is wrong, and just shows the hubris and arrogance of someone who thinks they are above the law.

And then there is the Victim Hillary ... and the wrath that goes with it ... people, can't we see through this garbage and recognize that she is not presidential material?

It is always interesting to watch how progressives cherry pick data and conflate motives among disparate groups. I suppose if we went back six months, and started in mid-2001 instead of 2002, then the Islamic threat would appear much more lethal than that of all the various "rightwing" groups being lumped together here. Or if we just went back six months from today ... the Islamic jihadi threat would look much more dangerous.

And this is a rebuttal to the article above ... note that the Jihadi threat is unitary, while the so-called rightwing threat is dispersed among a host of different groups aligning with a host of differing political objectives.

One hopes that Americans wake up to what the Europeans are discovering: Multiculturalism is not all it is cracked up to be ... Cultures can be different and not be equal. Assimulation is important to a country ... except that progressives are internationalists and don't believe in national cultures (ok, rank generalization, but essentially - in my humble opinion – true)

This article makes a point you probably have seen me make many times: Terrorists don't play by the same rules. In fact, most enemies of the US don't play by the same rules and use our rules against us, while ignoring them on their part. This always struck me as being wrong, somehow.

A perspective on the the importance of freedom of navigation patrols (and the ability to conduct them) in the East and South China Seas.

Ash Carter is trying to put a positive spin on things ... I just hope he is right ... but in my gut I have my doubts

Military chaplains always will have a special place in my heart. For many reasons, but mostly because they helped me keep my sanity. These chaplains are even more special, but I always think about the interviews I had with the five 82d Airborne chaplains who jumped in to Panama for Just Cause. If they keep watch over the Guardians, then who keeps watch over them ... for the burdens they must carry. They told me it is a team effort among themselves. As I said, they are a special breed of cat.