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.

Apparently much as changed in the cirriculae since my college days. Although, in many ways, when I look back it was not about learning so much as a paper chase. Now, it seems it is more about indoctrination.

It seems that the US 4th Circuit had a dose of common sense about so-called "assault weapons" which seems to upset the folks at Huff Po.

For the record, this is Britannica's definition of an assault rifle. I would note that fully automatic weapons are ILLEGAL in the US without going through a series of federal background checks and getting a special federal firearms license.

This is a very good brief on questions you should answer - man or woman - before you get a firearm for self-defense. While I think everyone should be trained in the safe handling of firearms ... and I mean everyone ... some people probably should choose not to have one.

Interesting take on Black History Month ... worth thinking about

UN panel says Julian Assange is being detained arbitrarily ... Huh? Nobody is holding him anywhere. He could leave the Ecudoran Embassy in London any time he wants. Of course, he will find himself probably arrested for jumping bail, and then deported to Sweden who has sexual assault charges pending on him. Nothing arbitrary about that.

Of course, Julian Assange, ever the narcissist, is claiming this means he has been vindicated and he can go without fear of arrest ... to wit, the British and the Swedes went: Think again

Sometimes I think that Climate Change alarmists just look for new ways to raise cain. Now not planting the right trees is causing the earth to get warmer.

But then again, maybe planting new trees is a good idea

I guess the Democrats really mucked up the Iowa Caucuses ... well, so much for trying to correct the pre-1968 party shennanigans

I am sorry, but Hillary dissembling about what the FBI is doing? Hello, that is SOP for her.

It seems that the media and others are trying to close the book on Carly Fiona ... I hope she hangs on - even with the discrimination - keeps plugging

This actually scares me a bit. Why? Because when regimes get shaky, they are prone to do things that don't go well for the rest of the world.

ISIS really is a different breed of cat from your normal Jihadi terrorist group ... and that means it has to be fought on different levels and in different ways.

This article explains a little bit about some of the hurdles facing fighting ISIS

This could get interesting if the Saudis and the other countries in the Arab world actually do line up and send troops like they did in 1990-91 to fight on the ground.

This look at the link between the Zika virus and mosquitoes calls for genetic modification to fight the bugs ... but then there are reports that attempts at genetic modification is how we got in this mess.

This author takes another tack, and calls for bringing back the insecticide DDT ... which is the most effective one, ever, against skeeters and at one time literally was saving hundreds of thousands of lives.

Sometimes, except for policy wonks, some issues just stay out of our minds ... to our detriment. It is time for the US to reexamine its nuclear arsenal and not take it for granted.

Random Thoughts and Readings for Feb. 3, 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.

More articles for discussion and consideration, now that the world has moved passed the Iowa Caucuses – I think the candidates should get over them and move on rather than petulantly complain that somebody cheated. Politics is a blood sport, and playing rough is part of the game … and in presidential politics, it probably is good preparation for dealing with the global political stage.

Having said that, let’s advance to what I found during my grazing of the internet.

Actually, I think the Navy is on to something here. Now, I did learn as a teen how to do celestial navigation but I never used the training. However, it reminds me of something I used to tell my troops back in the National Guard: All this new computer gadgetry is great, until the unit takes a bullet or too much dust or  you run out of batteries, then you dang well better know how to do the same stuff with a map, a chart board and a range-deflection protractor. Otherwise, you are going to be useless.

There is a new commission report out on the future of the US Army. This article is a bit critical of its focus and probably offers some valid points about the need to review history while thinking outside the box ... and do some realistic assessments on what the Army really needs to prepare for.

This article looks at the same report and is a lot less critical. Says a lot of good things about it, so the comparison provides good food for thought.

This essay makes the point that not addressing the most recent experience of the Army's wars  will not help it win future wars. Of course, the argument there really is about what shape will those conflicts take and how can the Army (as well as the other services) be shaped to be successful.

Women in combat units ... great debate ... but the point here is that a) it is going to happen ... and b) if they are going into combat units then all able-bodied women, like their male counterparts, need to register and be eligible for the draft. In that I agree with the military chiefs.

This is an interesting piece on losing focus on your strategic objectives that truly lie in the interest of successfully winning a war. Hitler lost his focus at Stalingrad (really a non-strategically vital objective), split his forces, which caused him to fail both objectives and World War II. There really are some very good lessons here.

The next president - regardless of whom it may be - is going to face a rather prodigious task of recovering from the debacle that has been the Obama Administration in the realm of global security policy.

A look at how President Obama's policies - under whatever guise you want to cast it - basically has eviscerated the American military to the point where it really is going to be challenged to meet the threats from Russia, China, ISIS and the rest of the chaos in the world.

This, unfortunately, provides an excellent example of the bubble the President and his followers travel in. The Iranians just aren't playing by the same rule book ... nor is the rest of the world, which in the end analysis really only respects a mailed fist ... despite what progressives may think.

North Korea's expected launch of a long-range missile - it really doesn't matter if it for launching satellites or nuclear warheads, the tech is the same - probably is going to happen ... and it is yet another example of the shortcomings of the vision of John Kerry and President Obama, etc.

This article was written in 1999 ... but unfortunately for several iterations of US foreign policy makers - including the current administration - just didn't get the memo. It remains essentially valid today as it was then. And basically is being validated by current events.

I happen to agree with Paul Greenberg that the fact we have abandoned the ideals put forth by Douglas MacArthur in his last address to the Corps of Cadets at West Point about the importance of "Duty, Honor, Country" in that those ideals have been lost in the intervening years up to now and that the nation ... and our society ... is much the worse for that.

This is an interesting essay on how capitalism has promoted the equality of our material well-being. That through capitalism and its power of innovation and invention and the mass marketing of the results, more people everywhere share a standard of living where poor people really do have access to the same technology the wealthy have ... amazing isn't it, when you think about it.

In many ways, there is much truth here ... although I think the peace is much more fragile.

It really is strange how similar situations are portrayed so differently ... primarily to advance a political agenda that should be an anathema to those who really are dedicated to individual freedom and liberty.

For those who don't "do" politics ... actually we do it every day ... and I disagree with the assumption that electoral politics is not worth participating in. But it is an interesting point of view.

This article in the Atlantic tries its best to spin Hillary Clinton's narrow victory as something more than it was ... like it was a triumph over terrible odds. Ah ... that is rather a load of that stuff metaphorically called bovine scatology. Actually it is much more equivalent to the catastrophic near defeats LBJ experienced in the early caucuses and primaries on 1968 that led, very soon after, with the entry of RFK into the race (who stole the thunder from Gene McCarthy who did the heavy lifting) and LBJ's decision not to run.

When I read this article asking us to cut Hillary some slack, I was struck by the sexist argument that she deserves it because she is a woman. Look folks, the world is not going to cut the next US president any slack, man, woman or orangatang

Interesting perspective on Clinton's e-mail problems ... and how it threatens to suck Obama into it. It also points out the hypocrisy of prosecuting Gen. David Patraeus and the problem that makes for decision not to prosecute Clinton ... and possibly Obama, for the same violations.

Back to the Iowa Caucuses ... it seems that Cruz won the GOP round by doing the old fashioned way ... working for his votes. OK, he played some hardball with Ben Carson, which probably wasn't necessary, but everything was legal ... if not necessarily by the Marquess of Queensbury definition of a sportsman-like effort.

Oh how the pundits are disappointed ... they thought they already had coronated the two major parties nominees. And now, it seems that the other states may just get to actually have a voice in who their party nominees will be, and not the talking heads inside the Beltway and New York City. It might be a long spring campaign, with possibly no resolution. Wouldn't that be refreshing to watch in August: How a brokered convention is conducted in the era of instant social media

And for those of you out there who live, breathe and die about the latest polling data ... note that, as usual, it is mostly wrong.

Good advice to the Republican Party from Victor Hanson ... If Trump falters, don't forget the legions who support him ... do what you can to inspire them to stay with the coalition.

Sadly, there is a lot of truth in this warning about tyranny. Both the left and the right are advancing it with their visions of how government can be the arbiter and solution to all the problems facing the nation. That path, unfortunately, does lead us unto the tyranny of dependency.

You know, there is enough blame to go around in the Flint water debacle. Whether it is the incompetence and malfeasance of the elected officials that got the city into receivership or the nimcompoops the governor appointed to rescue the city. As I say, pox on all their houses ... and hooray for those non-government groups who are stepping in to help resolve the crisis.

I suspect that this case could turnout to be a landmark case, for more reasons than seem apparent ... if the court so chooses. A) I hope the Supremes take the case. B) I would hope they would argue it expeditiously and decide it in the current term. Not that that is likely to happen, but I can dream, can't I.

Thoughts for Ground Hog Day, 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.

Yikes, is it really the second of February already even? I feel like Bill Murray, only I am trapped in 1968. Oh, well, the Race for the White House has officially begun and I warn  you believe half of what you see, a quarter of what you hear and a slice of what you read … and the picture still probably will be inaccurate. There will be accusations and charges (and just about anything else you can think of) over the next nine months, but just remember most of it is merely political theater. Everything will be spun, parsed and couched in terms that are designed to elicit specific visceral emotional reactions. So be prepared.

Having said that, I shall once again venture forth into my own commentary on various articles I have found recently … I hope you find my commentary – and the articles referenced – either enlightening, informative, entertaining or thought provoking, for that is my intent.

This is an interesting article trying to explain the differences between Republicans and Democrats. You can take it or leave it as is your wont.

From the same author comes a view of what it means to be a progressive.

It seems that Gen. David Petraeus will keep his fourth star ... after the Obama Administration's floating a trial ballon about taking it away from him for his breach of security and subsequent conviction and fining by a federal court got blown out of the sky by intense flak. It all smacked of a political move to me to discredit Petraeus and an ex-post-facto punishment for a crime that he already had paid his debt for.

It seems the Chinese were not too happy about this patrol.  In my humble opinion, it probably should become a routine part of a regular (like every two weeks or so) patrol through the area to ensure freedom of navigation.

Interesting parsing by Snopes, the fact check people. It smacks of listening to Bill Clinton say it depends on what you say "is" means.

If this surprises anybody ... then they need to wake up and realize this is the way it is. I actually had a visit last week from one of these paid canvassers. We had a very interesting discussion of the fallacy of raising the minimum wage and how it really hurts a lot of people. Oh, and he admittted he was being paid for his efforts, which I told him was right and proper for him to be paid for his services.

This story illustrates what is meant by American exceptionalism ... We are not talking government largess here ... or even that of just wealthy philanthropists ... but ordinary everyday Americans ... it is an attitude that I find refreshing my belief in my fellow Americans.

Another article illustrating that the "science" surrounding anthropogenic climate change definitely is not "settled"

Go! Go! Go! Elon Musk and SpaceX look forward to Mars in the next decade ... go, go, go.

Interesting article on what-if. Unfortunately, I would challenge its assumptions because neither housing nor food can be produced without cost … somebody somewhere along the food chain has to pay for it ... and that is why communism/socialism always flounder on its own contradictions.

Interesting concept on recycling old conex shipping containers. Of course, it depends on a reliable of supply of both energy and water.

The burden of proof is, to say the least, on those who claim that climate change is primarily the result of anthropogenic influences ... and as this thought-provoking piece points out: That proof just isn't there.

This to me is a typical progressive response to the arguments put forth by the Republican Party. To me, it seems, more of a case of looking for ways to help individual trees rather than the forest at large.

A thought-provoking piece looking into the problems that resulted from bad analysis and planning when invading Iraq in 2003.

Interesting discussion on your options when government proves to be too restrictive or "gets in the way". You basically have four options: Which would you choose?

For those who believe in the liberty and freedom for the individual, it seems we always must be wary of our own internal wishes to rule in an authoritarian model. But then I have contended for a long time that most people would be really satisfied with being ruled by a benevolent despot.

Drawing a parallel between the "views" of progressives and Muslims ... ouch.

Victor Hanson on how the last few decades have split California and sent portions back to the Dark Ages

It seems that much of Europe is waking up to the cultural nightmare that has descended on them with the migration from the Middle East and North Africa in waves that can't or won't be assimilated.

While memorials to wars long forgotten seem passe these days, this is one that is long overdue

Is the United States going to be governed by the rule of law or the rule of power, where those with power are immune and above the law? Damn good question. And one we hope will be answered this year.

I found this site to be interesting and thought-provoking. Not necessarily convincing, nor am I sure I accept a lot of its basic premises and assumptions but they are at least worth reading.