Friday, October 2, 2015

Suggested readings from Oct. 2, 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.

Politics and people make for strange stories … and I keep telling my pretty wife, it is usually best to wait until the smoke clears and the dust settles before trying to figure out what’s happening, much less what went on.

This story probably dominated the water-cooler talk today ... and it is unfortunate that the president chose immediately to politicize it. I am not sure any of the "gun control" regimes proposed by those who favor it would have stopped this ... we will only find that out with more investigation. The biggest mystery is why? I don't necessarily buy into the lone mental case, but it could be.

Here is the president saying that the shooting should be "politicized" ... which begs the question of what if the shooter wasn't a lone wacko … what if he really was a lone wolf.

And here is a story ... no vouching for it but it seems to be a real news outlet ... that says the Russian FBI equivalent tried to give the US a watch list of suspected terrorists ... and this shooter's name was on it. It references a number of other aspects that various other news reports have alluded to that link him to Islamic Jihadist groups.

I have no doubt these numbers are correct - although I suspect they have been massaged a bit. Of course, they also fail to take in the rampant gun violence in places like Chicago, Detroit, Washington, New Orleans, Memphis, Los Angeles. There are two common denominators in that list and in the school shooting list ... guns are either banned or strictly controlled in those places ... and the cities all have been under progressive, liberal Democratic management for about 50 years ... at what point should we start wondering it is those policies that are at fault?

And then there is this story: No greater love ... once a soldier, always a soldier ... always still serving … a big salute and I hope that he is able to fully recover from his seven wounds.

Russians defend Syrian bombing targets ... basically saying that anyone opposed to Assad is a terrorist.

Consequences of Russian actions in Syria ... interesting review ... although I love how in the end it comes down to being the Americans' fault.

First person report on how Ukraine and Syria are connected ... I love his point about the "Franz Ferdinand" effect ... it is so apt.

Brief review on the Middle East that sums up the chaos and conflict

There is a old saying about keeping silent and risk looking a fool, instead of saying something and removing all doubt. That is this retired Col.'s advice to Obama and his administration ... especially since they don't have a clue what their strategy should be.

This commentary assails Obama's self-fulfilling strategy of abandoning allies to chaos.

This is a grunt's perspective on the war in Afghanistan ... was it worth it ... maybe not, because we set unrealistic objectives and then, like the 1960s, decide to divide our resources, which eventually leads to disaster

This commentary is correct ... in that we no longer have the will to win ... or even become totally committed to anything.

This article is probably true. Obama has ushered in the end of Pax Americana ... aided by the liberals and progressives ... and in the end, our reluctance is going to come at a high price in blood and treasure.

Bahrain boots Iranian envoy after bomb making facility found ... Iran? We are innocent as a lamb.

With sadness, we want to remember this brave airlifter crew.

Another example of Hillary Clinton's hubris ... I surely hope that some of this is beginning to take its toll ... because there is so much wrong with her, it is disgusting.

And the tragic terrorism between Palestinians and Israelis just keeps going on ... and with rarely any outcry over the deaths on either side.

It would seem to me that the fine in this case is a bit excessive ... but I would hope the couple would get their day in court before paying it.

A commentary on stricter ozone standards by the EPA ... you know, these points do bring up truly valid questions, if you are honest about it, and maybe we should try to answer them before jumping off another cliff.

This is an example of humans' unwillingness to recognize that nature has a say ... and all we can do is try to remediate the impact ... either by getting out of the way or building higher walls.

An interesting discussion of China's new assertiveness and what it might mean

This jobless rate number is bogus ... because, as cited in the story, not counted are people who have "dropped out of the workforce". I think that really is a silly argument.

Milwaukee's Sheriff Clark definitely doesn't pull any punches.

I sometimes wonder if Pope Francis just likes to stir pots ...

And it is officially good-bye to the Army Greens of the last 61 years. I wonder if they will issue me a set of Blues now ... I was told to get a set (25 years ago) but being enlisted, I told them ... you want me to wear a set, you need to issue me one, because I wasn't going to spend the $300 to $500 it was going to cost me for the uniform and all the accouterments.

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