Saturday, October 17, 2015

Suggested readings from Oct. 16, 2015

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.

Once more into the breach, lads … or at least I venture forth once again with another collection of random thoughts on the news of the day. As usual, I do  hope you find this collection interesting, if not education, informative and thought provoking … for that is my goal. I also welcome any and all commentary … especially from those who wish to challenge any of my observations.

This is known as trying to apply the law enforcement paradigm to fight terrorism ... we will see how it works, and I will bet that the wheels of justice in this case will grind exceedingly slowly.

Oh my goodness, the world must be coming to an end. There is dissent among the leadership of the Democratic Party ... please tell me, how can this be so ... for if this was in the Republican Party, it would be shouted from the roof tops that the GOP is committing suicide.

OOPS! Political correctness just ran up against political reality ... and the Bureau of Prisons retreated.

Gee whiz, economic reality hits Social Security and other CPI-indexed federal retirement and benefit programs. Aghast, he says, the world is going to come to an end and all these people are going to starve so we should all run out in the street and scream and shout in sackcloth and ashes in our despair.

Another story about applying the law enforcement paradigm to the fight against terrorists ... and as you can see, it is fraught with pitfalls and obstacles ... and the wheels of justice grind exceedingly slowly. I know we pride ourselves in our justice system taking every care with individual rights, but sometimes I think the justice system abuses that in that it drags cases out forever.

The New Yorker joins the elite consensus that Hillary Clinton really did win the debate Tuesday night ... and not Bernie Sanders.

Once again, our president does his thing ... unfortunately, the saddest part is it probably will paid for in buckets of blood ... mostly Afghan, but that is the American way once we tire of the mission

Mr. Cohen makes some thought provoking points ... about slippery slopes and raises questions about what the US role is, or should be, in the world.

Interesting thesis about Afghanistan ... but I think the biggest shortcoming is that the US does not have the influence over the Pakistani military that this commentator thinks.

Interesting take on the "socialist paradise" of Scandinavia

It appears that now that things are not going swimmingly for the health insurance co-ops created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). It seems they are getting neither the enrollment and cash flow that they expected and they are becoming economically non-viable ... affecting hundreds of thousands of policy holders.

As a former military public affairs officer, seeing the work "tank" in the headline of this story made me think of the last Reforger in 1990 in Germany. I did my annual training as the head of the News Analysis Section for the Allied Press Information Center for SHAFE/NATO. We had a great debate, amongst my German Bundeswehr translators, myself and others how to define various German words that describe armored vehicles. The reason for the debate was that no "tanks" (Abrams, Leopards, Challengers, Sheridans, Scorpions, etc.) were being used in the huge exercise. Mainly it was armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles (which a lot of people confuse with a tank, but lack its huge main gun and about 30 tons of armor.) The point being is that I doubt very seriously that it was an American "tank" that was used to break into the MSF compound ... I suspect that it was any number of lighter armored vehicles that people confuse with a tank ... even more so, I don't think any American armored units are still operating in Afghanistan, so the operators probably were ANA. Still, it makes a good headline to make people mad at Americans.

This article does pose an interesting question: Why? And as of yet, the silence has been thundering.

An interesting commentary that points out some of the reasons to be skeptical of the current hysteria about anthropomorphic climate change. Of course, it seems that saying that might get you thrown in jail soon, but I suspect there is ample reason to be skeptical and to recognize other ameliorating factors.

Paul Greenberg on his usual roll ... he makes me smile while he makes his point.

Consider this about Nigeria ... and its fight with the Boko Haram ... how involved does the US want to be ... and how much say will the people or their representatives have in it.

The war of words continues over the disputed archipelagos of the South China Sea

Interesting article on China's relations with North Korea and its linkages to South Korea and the United States ... only I am not sure I am buy this ... but then the Chinese government usually is playing international relations like an onion.

Interesting article about North Korea and how it is not "communist" ... which probably is true ... but it is hard to explain to some people it is just another example how the communist and socialist economic models always seem to implode.

Interesting commentary on the outlook for the Israeli Air Force ... it may not all be doom and gloom ... but it makes probably what is a valid point.

A very good article reviewing the history of Task Force Smith 65 years ago with the hollowing of US Army capabilities ... maybe we have forgotten a few lessons.

Interesting discussion on the reporting behind the stories about Osama Bin Laden's death ... and the fact that we probably will never know what really happened.

This story adds an interesting twist into the investigations about Clinton's various private e-mail servers.

Another sad turn in the saga of Israel v. the Palestinians

Another critical view of John Kerry and the Obama Administration's portrayal of Israel actions in the latest flare up of violence.

The attack on Catholic run hospitals continues

Mr. Rachel continues with this rant that exposes Farrakhan.

It is hard to predict where this will all end ... but it does look like it will be an ugly confrontation in the skies around Syria

I sometimes think the folks in the five-sided puzzle palace just get wrapped up in political correctness and are incapable of laying out a cogent argument for anything. So far, I think the DOD gets an F on this.

I get really tired of the insensitivity of the Democrats and our current government ... which if it was done by anyone else would bring hellfire and damnation down on the offending party.

It will be interesting to see how the government plans to define what is a drone, and what is a permitted radio-controlled flying machine

Kerchunk ... Apple gets hit with huge fine for patent infringement

The European "migrant crisis" takes another twist as Hungary closes its border.

This could be interesting: Canadian Liberal leader Trudeau says he will improve relations with Obama ... I wonder if they will have a beer summit ... or maybe just smoke a few joints together.

US cancels oil leases in the Arctic ... typical

I guess somebody is making plans to go back to the Moon ... everybody else, it seems.

Another example of the law enforcement paradigm to combat terrorists.

Another illustration of how ineffective the Obama Administration is.

Another report on the attack on St. Joseph's Tomb.

Once again, Congress puts it to veterans ... not totally unexpected.

And ISIS is making its presence felt in Sweden ...

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