Note: Each block of text actually is a link to a story or a web page that I am commenting on. Click on that text and it will take you to the page being referred to.
Today looks more like normal … seems people are back to saber rattling and making life difficult for others who disagree with them. Still, some of these are good stories to keep track of the players and who is saying what and who is doing what.
It seems that their threats in August were not enough for the North Koreans ... so they are cranking up the reactors to make more bombs and rolling out a long-range missile. The importance of the latter is, as it always has been, that the capability of putting a significant payload into space translates into the capability to put a nuclear bomb just about anywhere on earth. I hope people realize that the US space program was built on the success of its military ICBMs back in the 1950s and 1960s. Atlas, Agena, Thor and Delta rockets all originally were ICBMs. The Saturn series was the first really to be designed from the ground up as a space launch vehicle.
Nuclear disarmament, never really more than a dream, apparently seems slipping further and further away in our turbulent world. Particularly as the US withdraws, retrenches and redefines its strategic interests. It could get really ugly, especially if the 40-plus cusp nations decide to make the leap.
Interesting primer on working with our NATO allies, especially the new NATO members not traditionally dealt with. Put it in context with what is happening in Ukraine and elsewhere ... and there is considerable value. I also noted that this officer was National Guard … and the Guard has a reputation of thinking outside the box.
This provides an interesting take on exactly what the Russians are trying to do in Syria ... ah, the Great Game returns.
Maybe the Europeans are finally waking up ... Nah, I doubt it. I suspect there are those who see the writing on the wall, but I doubt very seriously the governments will really do anything productive.
A rather stern indictment of President Obama's foreign policies and how it is contributing to the chaos and bloodshed in the Middle East ... Sorry, Mister President, but you own this now. You can't keep blaming Bush.
I really can't fault this essay about U.S.-Russian relations ... it really is historically accurate ... of course, our president and his liberal-progressive followers will deny it to the end.
And back in the South China Sea, the Chinese are busy building more airfields for its warplanes ... note: Warplanes can pretty much operate anywhere civilian planes operate ... it is the nature of the beast.
While this posits a legal rationale - under various international treaties, conventions and laws - for other nations to ignore China's claims to sovereignty over the reefs they are turning into islands, don't even look to the present U.S. administration to do anything about freedom of the seas and navigation. The Chinese might get mad and try to use force, which then would require a counter-action by the US president ... and that ain't happening folks.
This is not a matter of just funding the Defense Department, because the President and the Democrats in Congress will not let that happen. No, lifting sequestration to them means lifting all limits on federal entitlement spending for special interests and favored interest groups.
I love it when the Defense Department leadership ignores the objective truths when it doesn't agree with their social agenda. The Marines - male and female - have every right to be pissed.
Well, the second great GOP candidate debates are Wednesday (today probably for most of you reading this) and this is a preface to it. It makes a big deal out of Reagan's ability to compromise ... but what it doesn't point out is that neither Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid are Tip O'Neill ... O'Neill was willing to compromise, Pelosi and Reid and President Obama have proven themselves unwilling to compromise. That makes a major difference.
Unfortunately, this topic does not lend itself to a sound bite ... besides it is in legal Latin: Mens Rea. But the thing is that any reform in the federal sentencing system really needs to begin with it. Unfortunately that means looking at a host of laws, rules and regulations (many not passed by Congress) that have to be reviewed and altered. You think that is going to happen? Who are you kidding. The author is correct about one thing: It is about as much about criminal justice reform (the system does work) as the Affordable Care Act really was about patient access to medical care ... that was about who pays, not improving patient care or access (which is pretty good)
This case going before the Supremes should be an interesting one to follow. Are non-citizens, illegal immigrants and other people ineligible to vote entitled to be counted when determining a district's population during redistricting. It does raise the question of what one person-one vote really means.
When you think about income "inequality", it might behoove you to consider the points raised in this article. Just what is "fairness"? What is equality before the law? Are we to abandon equality before the law in exchange for someone's concept of what is fair and what is not?
Jade Helm 15 is over and the anticipated take-over didn't happen. I never thought it would.
A Catholic hospital is taking heat for being ... Catholic ... I understand what the woman wants, but there are other avenues to her objective - which, granted, take more work on her part than the "permanent" solution she wanted - but that doesn't give her the right to demand or use the government to force a religious institution (a hospital run by a church qualifies in my book) to violate one of its precepts.
Oh, the horrors ... sex robots ... it means the downfall of the world ... sigh ... I think there are greater threats.
With Pope Francis' US visit less that two-weeks away ... an article on what some perceive as the pontiff's beefs with America.
A plea from Dr. Sowell for prospective American voters to pay more attention to policy and other factors rather than the emotional reactions some candidates inspire.
A defense, sort of, of political correctness. Civility is fine, but it can be taken to the extreme where it is suppressive.
Oops ... another indication that maybe all is not lost due to CO2 emissions. Just saying ... it might be a point to consider.
Unfortunately ... this article really is true ... yet everyone seems to continue to give Democrats, liberals and progressives, a pass ... like it isn't their fault. It has to be a fault of those evil rich people as well as those trice-damned Republicans.
Although there is much validity in this mother's lament ... boys also face unreal expectations and demands in our ever changing perceptions of what proper roles are.
I am sorry, but I am over this ... feminists screaming victimization. I guess that the private industry in the television world will have to adhere to quotas now ... I wonder, will those quotas extend to political viewpoints?
Okinawa at its anti-American finest ... I know it hasn't been easy there ... but at least efforts have been made at accommodation ... unfortunately, that is not enough ... maybe the US should have just claimed the island as US territory after World War II (like the Russians did with the Kuriles north of Japan), developed it as a US protectorate ... and let the devil take the hindmost.
And this is exciting ... even if I don't get to see it ... I hope the dreamers keep pushing the envelope and keep their eyes on the prize. Whether it is setting up a station on the Moon or on Mars ... both should be pursued, in my humble opinion, with the utmost vigor. Not that they will be, but maybe private enterprises will lead the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment