Israel should consider use of landmines to secure its border from tens of thousands of Hamas terrorists that seek daily to overrun the border and murder the citizens of the sovereign State of Israel.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Disengagement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disengagement. Show all posts
July 16, 2018
Israel's Border Security
Israel should consider use of landmines to secure its border from tens of thousands of Hamas terrorists that seek daily to overrun the border and murder the citizens of the sovereign State of Israel.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 30, 2017
You Can Take The Man From Washington
Even here in beautiful Florida, I ran into this caricature of former President Obama in some street art downtown.
Man, isn't it enough that he empowered the Axis of Evil Iran and North Korea; left Syria and Ukraine to rot in bloody civil war and to kneel beneath the will of the Russians; ignored the Sino military buildout in the South China Sea, was lax on radical Islamists, ISIS, and global terrorism; abandoned America's allies Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the gulf nations; and let's not forget that he literally doubled our national debt to $20 trillion!
What was once an admirable Democratic party is still reeling today from the embrace of leadership from behind, disengagement, weakness, and blatant anti-Semitism.
Like Forrest Gump says, life is not a bowl of cherries or box of chocolates, especially when failed leaders do the wrong things and hurt the country and their party. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 28, 2017
Who's In Your Corner?
It's not what you know, but who you know!
Relationships, connections, and networks are critical for all of us to work together and get things done.
And sure, it's good to have some reliable people in your corner who know you and can speak good about who you are, what you represent, and what you're doing.
However, let's face it, there are some people out there that take advantage and don't just have advocates, but rather protectors, and it's a way for those who may be unqualified, unsavory, and incompetent--as individual--to sustain themselves.
Frankly, some of these people should never be in their jobs and should never be a leader over anything or anybody--but they are enabled, because of who and not what they know or are able to do.
Whether it's the Peter Principle or bullies and those without a working moral compass or sometimes it seems even a conscience, it can be very scary at times for what suffices as leadership in many organizations.
Yes, of course, Thank G-d for the many good, well-meaning, and hardworking folks that make getting up in the morning as well as going into the office, worthwhile.
But for those that hide behind the skirts of others, so that they can get away with things that they should never ever be getting away with...well those are not fruitful relationships being maintained, but rather caustic ones that radiate concentric circles of toxicity to organizations, people, and mission.
People know it when they see it--because it stinks from the stench of bad apples, bullying, disengagement, lack of accountability and ultimately failure.
We desperately need each person to perform and to band together as an A-Team.
However, sink or swim--as individuals, each person in their own based on their conscience and contribution without a phony mask of a protectorate accomplice. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 9, 2017
Drumbeats Of War
The bend over backwards for our enemies is over.
Terrible and unenforceable deals are shameful history.
Cyberattacks and hacking will not be treated as the cost of doing business in the 21st century.
Buzzing of our ships and planes won't be tolerated anymore.
Letting other nations take what they want in Georgia, Crimea, Syria, and the South China Sea is finished.
Watching helplessly the nuclear proliferation and buildup of the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction by Iran and North Korea won't go unanswered.
Radical Islamic terrorism is not a dirty word anymore and we will bring the fight to the enemy in a bigger and more serious way.
Our defense and that of our allies won't be treated lightly and we will not retreat in the face of evil.
No one wants war, everyone wants peace, but unless we stop the aggression against us once and for all, the drumbeats of war will only get louder and more ominous.
Set the boundaries and enforce them before the all the red lines are crossed and a real and highly dangerous confrontation becomes inevitable.
Peace through strength is far preferable than war because of disengagement, weakness, and leadership from behind.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 14, 2017
Our Assets Are Compromised
Of course, it's about using information to get a strategic advantage.
It runs the gamut from pure espionage in terms of stealing state secrets and intellectual property to conducting stealthy subversive acts to undermine enemies and competitors.
Whatever spies do, it's all about compromising assets...whether they be human, information, or critical infrastructure.
From turning patriots into traitors, words into info warfare, or critical infrastructure in trojan horses ready to im/explode...whatever leads to getting the upper-hand or advantage.
What one nation comes to rely on for their sustainment and survival is instead exploited and turned against them like a trojan horse or modern-day malware.
And with people, using money, sex, ideology, compromising material (Kompromat), or threats against loved ones--it's simply about appealing to either opportunism or extortion.
So truly defense means protecting not only what before one's eyes, but also what in the rear and at the flanks.
When the over 21 million personnel records and background investigations where stolen from OPM on virtually all federal employees (civilian, military, and intelligence personnel) a door was left open and the demon is still hiding and waiting to cross the threshold, infiltrate, exfiltrate, and compromise.
As an society that meaningfully values an open and transparent democracy, we can perhaps too easily become lured or lax to common sense safeguards and vigilance, but that does not excuse negligence, incompetence or stupidity.
Rich people and countries around the world can unknowingly falter by becoming overly comfortable and full of themselves...to the point where many don't fully care about their jobs or their country, as they sit in their mansions, designer clothes, and with busting bellies.
From the need to vastly improve our competencies in cyberwarfare to defending ourselves from a tidel wave of global terrorism to upgrading the U.S. nuclear triad against resurgent superpowers and dangerous rogue dictators, we have let our guard down to compromise.
Is expelling 35 Russian diplomats an effective strategy against their technical attempts to subvert our free and democratic elections or does it just underscore how vulnerable we continue to be?
When as a country and with our leadership, we decide to get serious rather than stay scared and war weary then we will not only stand firm again, but fight against weakness and compromise of ourselves. ;-)
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
January 8, 2017
In Memory of Shir, Yael, Erez, and Shira
This is the result of radical Islamist terrorism that the Obama administration can't even utter...and which unfortunately has resulted in the loss of so many innocent lives.
As the Obama administration defends terrorism as "workplace violence" and traffic accidents, they condemn our friend and ally, Israel--the Holy Land.
Nor can we say that the Obama administration stood by and did nothing as the world descended into chaos...no, instead, they actively released the terrorists from GITMO, let Crimea be overrun by Russia, let China militarize the South China Sea, made a disastrous deal with Iran that legitimizes their attaining the nuclear bomb, watched as North Korea tested nuke after nuke and missile after missile, and ignored the overrunning of their "red line" as 500,000 were slaughtered in Syria and refugees streamed across Europe.
What a disgraceful legacy for the Obama administration--Anti-Israel hate and Anti-Semitism, and leadership from behind as the dark forces of terrorism and war engulf the Middle East and Western civilization, and the clock ticks down to midnight. ;-)
(Source Photo: Stand With Us)
December 29, 2016
Temper Tantrums Don't Make Peace
We are not dealing with children and should not treat foreign countries and leaders "with disdain and disrespect" or with bias, hate, and underling anti-Semitism.
Nor should we get on our soapbox high and mighty and "lecture" others, especially when we ourselves have been grossly deficient and derelict.
Over the last 8 years:
We let 500,000 Syrians be massacred, including the very rebels that we were supposedly supporting, and allowed many to be killed with prohibited chemical weapons (violating our definitive "red line")!
We let Ukraine be attacked and Crimea be stolen!
We let Russian nuclear-capable weapons be stationed on the border of NATO.
We let millions of refugees stream across the Middle East and world homeless and helpless.
We let the world's #1 sponsor of terrorism, Iran, become a licensed nuclear power, extend their Caliphate across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen--while swarming and buzzing our ships and taking our sailors hostage and humiliating them.
We let North Korea advance it's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
We let China build and militarize the South China Sea and threaten freedom of navigation of the seas, and let them steal our drone in International waters.
We let our ambassador to Libya and his associates be murdered.
We let the President of the Philippines call our President a "son of a whore."
We let ISIS rampage and murder across the globe in countless terror attacks, while we called them "workplace violence" and traffic accidents.
We let divisiveness seep into and poison our own cities, communities, people, and even against law enforcement, and politicized everything stagnating our our country and making us fall further behind in the world from education to life expectancy.
We abandoned those seeking democracy, freedom, and human rights from the Green Revolution in Iran to the Arab Spring across the Middle East.
And the list goes shamefully on and on.
But what's possibly even worse is that while we failed the world over, we are arrogant and nasty to others betraying our friend and allies in one-sided resolutions that ignore the scrounge of terrorism, deadly attacks, Anti-Semitism as well as with horrible deals with Iran that threaten their very existence.
While we continue to sit in America, on land forcibly and violently taken from the Native American Indians, having brutally enslaved for hundreds of years African Americans, abused women and treated them as lessor in role, voting, and dignity, interned Japanese Americans and twice dropped the Atom Bomb on civilian cities, what right do we have to lecture anyone?
Yes, we dole out billions to nations around the world, for what we want whether in terms of allies, voting blocks, military cooperation, intelligence, or because of religious convictions, but that does not give us the right to arrogantly and bulling tell others or try to force them how to live in their neighborhoods and with the threats facing their people.
While we did nothing, we spoke a great deal trying in vain to force our will on others, and the failures that abound are a reflection of just that leadership from behind, hypocrisy, and hubris. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 20, 2016
Just Cut It Out
- Cyber attacking the U.S. democratic election, invasion of Crimea, and encroaching on NATO with nuclear capable missiles...just cut it out!
- Vast destruction of Aleppo including hospitals, schools, and markets, killings, refugees, and humanitarian crisis, and the dangerous use of chemical weapons on civilians...just cut it out!
- China stealing our drone and militarizing the South China Sea...just cut it out!
- North Korea testing advanced nukes and ballistic missiles capable of reaching Europe and America and threatening to use them...just cut it out!
- Iran taking our sailors captive, humiliating them, buzzing our warships, and violating the nuclear arms deal...just cut it out!
- Abandoning our friends and allies and befriending our enemies sworn to kill us and not even being able to say the words, "Radical Islamist"...just cut it out!
- Spiraling divisiveness, rioting in our inner cities, and cycles of racial and police violence...just cut it out!
- An unsustainable Obamacare with double digit rising rates and decreasing insurance choices (many localities with only 1)...just cut it out!
- Doubling of the U.S. national debt by another $10 trillion and enacting regulations that are strangling business...just cut it out!
- Endless ISIS and other terrorist attacks (yesterday on Berlin, Zurich, Turkey and more) and calls it "workplace violence" or a traffic accident...just cut it out!
Anyone who says that now "We're feeling what not having hope feels like," truly must be referring to where we come from and not where we are going.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 17, 2016
Returning The US Drone
However, it is wrong that their military stole a US drone in international waters.
Bullying and theft is a violation of the rule of law and a challenge to America on the international stage.
So far, our leadership from behind approach has again done virtually nothing, except like a child, ask for it back (after they have already taken whatever they wanted from it).
Moreover, this is not the first time China has captured our assets and people--less than 6 years ago, they collided into one of our EP-3E surveillance aircraft and captured, interrogated , and held the crew for 11 days!
And hence our planes and ships keep getting buzzed, our citizens captured and humiliated, our assets confiscated illegally, and our secret intellectual property unabashedly hacked and copied.
Moreover, we are seeing a resurgent Russia in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria; a militarized China expanding and weaponizing the South China Sea, a belligerent North Korea with ever further reaching ballistic nukes, and an Iran that violates their nuclear deal at will and now runs amuck with military operations from Iraq to Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and more.
Oh, and surely let's not forget ISIS and the global wave of Islamic terrorism that is unabated from Paris to Orlando.
Despite our outspending the next leading 8 nations combined on the military, we continue to be the laughing stock internationally with world leaders calling our Presidents everything from the devil to an SOB.
No one would dare do this with Putin's Russia!
Why? Because they know the ridiculous price they would pay.
We have long since passed the time when we should've stopped the whining, begging, and acting the victim, and instead start to do something real to defend ourselves and once again establish a no-nonsense deterrent, rather than a joke of red lines and hollow threats.
Our Commander-in-chief, instead of laying blame at the doorstep of Congress or world leaders doing the wrongdoing, should start to act his position.
Perhaps, just perhaps, it's a single phone call to whoever has our drone that says something like, "You have exactly 2 hours to return the drone unharmed or the ship that was responsible for stealing it will pay the consequences--and the clock starts ticking now!"
The funny-sad thing is that bullies don't stop bullying until you stand up to them once and for all.
A real Commander In Chief protects his nation and his people and doesn't let them be victimized in a endless cycle of violence and shame...and he does it before something really bad can happen. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 27, 2016
Escalating Iranian Threat To World Peace
Iran is spreading it's caliphate ambitions across the Middle from Iran to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and more.
As the #1 world sponsor of terrorism and abuser of human rights, there is reason to be concerned and afraid of Iran's intentions and actions.
The ISIS terror and caliphate may end up paling in comparison to the threat of a dangerous fundamentalist Iran with emerging nukes, ballistic missiles, and a fearsome spreading caliphate of their own.
Now Iran conveniently claims that radiological material, Iridium, was stolen, and where it ends up exploding no one yet knows, but we can guess the likely targets.
What wonderful plausible deniability for a suitcase WMD bomb horrifically placed and detonated by Iran, themselves.
As Israel is burning, Aleppo is being flattened, Mosul fighting is raging street by street, and terrorists are plotting ever greater strikes into our heartlands, we are sitting here dumb and dumber.
Please G-d, he will restore peace to our lands and people.
May He grant our leaders the wisdom to act as necessary, with due speed and agility to defeat our enemies whether ISIS or Iran and not be fooled by agreements not worth the ridiculous paper they are written on.
(Source Video: Andy Blumenthal)
November 18, 2016
Telling The Next Guy
Obama tells Trump that he needs to stand up to Putin (i.e. don't wimp out)!
Uh, who's the guy who has been in office the last 8 years?
An during those years, our standing and national security has suffered from disengagement and utter weakness at virtually every turn of the globe.
- We let red lines be violated in Syria and watched our Ambassador murdered in Libya.
- Russia expanded into Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria, and now it's looking to Cuba and Vietnam.
- China has been rapidly militarizing into the South China Sea and expanding it's economic influence in Africa.
- We made the "worst deal in history" in Iran that allows them to eventually go nuclear!
- North Korea continues to expand it's nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile technology.
- The Philippines told the President to "go to h*ll" and threatens to break from the U.S. militarily.
- U.S. backed off support for democracy in Egypt after the military coup that overthrew Morsi
- Venezuela expelled our top diplomat and 2 other embassy officials ratcheting up hostilities with the U.S.
- Cyberattacks have plagued the U.S. and we haven't been able to defend ourselves.
- ISIS has demonstrated success and our strategy has not made them less dangerous and lethal.
- After years of mounting terrorism, our leaders still refuse to even say the words, "radical Islam."
I'm not sure why people are so tempted to give advice and preach to others, when they themselves have so many failings.
I think it's certainly okay to humbly share our experiences and lessons learned if we have any.
But perhaps when you don't have the best record on something, as they old saying goes, you should refrain from throwing large stones in your very fragile glass houses!
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 4, 2016
Are We Leading The World To The Brink
- Russia is raining bombs on Syria, massing on the border of Ukraine, threatening the Balkans, and holding massive nuclear drills, while talks break off with the U.S.
- China is militarizing in the South China Sea, creating anti-access/area denial (A2/AD), and threatening freedom of navigation and armed conflict.
- Iran continues to swarm U.S. ships, take U.S. hostages, tightens their grip over the Middle East, sponsors terrorism as #1 in the world, builds more reactors and advances their nuclear strategy and threats to the West.
- North Korea is building and testing bigger nukes, firing multiple medium-range missiles as well as long-range ballistic missiles, including from submarines, and threatens nuclear strikes on South Korea and the U.S.
In 1991, at the end of the Cold War and with nuclear disarmament initiatives underway, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists rated us at 17 minutes to midnight (the best it's ever been) on the famous Doomsday Clock that represents the countdown to global disaster.
However by 2007, right before this administration, with far greater concerns of a nuclear terrorist attack, we were down to just 5 minutes to midnight.
And now in 2016, we are at a mere 3 minutes to midnight, and "the probability of global catastrophe is very high," as "world leaders had failed to act!"
Moreover, with the current slate of candidates for Presidency both receiving negative ratings of about 60% from registered voters, there is obviously great consternation by the people of the U.S. as well as the rest of the world on the direction we are going in or lack thereof.
Again today, flailing on the leadership front in Syria, almost 6 years into the war there, we are again "considering tougher options" after the "red lines" were eviscerated, plan B never went anywhere, and we acknowledged that "we have no good options" there, while Russia is bringing in the big guns!
In dangerous world situations, the wrong action by leadership can spark an escalation and lead to negative consequences, but no action, displaying uncertainty and weakness, or attempting a losing appeasement strategy can lead to an even more emboldened enemy and then the Doomsday Clock can strike midnight and we can all pretty much just say one last goodnight. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 2, 2016
U.S. Shuts Eyes To Syria and Ukraine
Incredibly, there are 500,000 killed (including 50,000 children) and another 2,000,000 wounded in the fighting already
Also, there are 6,000,000 internally displaced and another 4,800,000 refugees outside Syria causing a humanitarian crisis and destabilizing the region.
Dictator Bashar Al Assad and most importantly, Russia seem unstoppable.
Russia does not play by the West's rules--they make the rules!
While we threaten to cut off diplomatic talks, Russia continues the heaviest bombing of the war with 1,900 bombs on Aleppo in the last week alone.
The UN cries foul with empty threats of war crimes on the atrocities being committed, but again no one is willing to stop Russia.
Moreover, Russia brings in yet more advanced weaponry and warns the U.S. not to try to stop them in Syria (sound familiar to the 2014 blitzkrieg in Crimea/Ukraine?).
Again, we are unwilling to stop the bombardment of almost 300,000 civilians in Aleppo with aid convoys, hospitals, schools, and bakeries all grotesquely now being fair game.
Last week, I watched 60 Minutes on CBS about our nuclear bomber fleet, and the rising threat of nuclear war with Russia.
What was particularly scary is that U.S. military strategists are now concerned that the U.S. is "sociologically weaker" than our opponents.
In particular, they worry that as Russia continues to threaten first use of nukes to meet their strategic aims with "an evolved willingness to employ nuclear weapons in the course of a conflict," they are counting on the U.S. to back down from any engagement or retaliation, because we would be so afraid of escalating with Russia, let alone using first.
In other words, Russia does not consider the U.S. nuclear deterrent to be credible anymore--we are viewed as chicken and pushovers and Russia could simply "shock the Western powers into de-escalating."
First Ukraine and now Syria, what country is safe from the "Great Bear"--will the Balkans be next or perhaps somewhere even more deadly to a broken NATO and a farce of a UN. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 23, 2016
Big Government Turnaround
Sort of ironic for this sign that says:
"Big Government Sucks"
...to be handed out in the capital of the United States of America!
It would make sense that this negative notion of big government is connected to the low approval ratings of Congress (17%) and government services (64.4) provided.
People are seeing and sensing that big government is bad government when it is:
- Dictatorial, corrupt, and discriminatory.
- Mired in fraud, waste, abuse, and coverups.
- Self-serving for the politicians that are elected to serve the people.
- When it is bureaucratic and ineffective.
- When it is confused and without vision or plan for the country.
- When it's indecisive, makes bad decisions, or can't successfully execute short- and long-term on it's mission.
- When it is lacking in basic values of democracy, freedom, and human rights for all.
At the same time, big government can be great government, when it is a beacon of light for its citizens and for the nations of the earth.
- When it protects us from dictators, demagogues, terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, criminals, and all sorts of disasters.
- When it holds strong and cutting-edge the economy, prosperity, innovation, education, and competitive advantage of the nation.
- When it safeguards and keeps sustainable the environment for future generations.
- When it preserves and fortifies freedom, human rights, social equity, equality, and justice.
- When it looks after the needy and less fortunate.
- When it lead the world in exploration, discovery, partnerships, and ultimately doing good for the people, the planet, and our future.
Big government sucks when it goes wrong and then they start handing out these sad signs on our nation's premier college campuses.
This is a big problem to turnaround?
But with smart, committed, and moral leadership, it can be done! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 21, 2016
Heads Down, Pants Down
And that's exactly what's happening to the reputation of the U.S. here and abroad.
Domestically, another 3 terror attacks just over the weekend in New York , New Jersey, and Minnesota.
While overseas, a humanitarian aid convey is attacked in Syria destroying 18 trucks and killing 20 people, and this after being coordinated with Russia, in advance.
And despite our touting our own horn of achievements at the UN yesterday, in the Wall Street Journal today, the former prime minister of Denmark and secretary-general of NATO is crying out on behalf of the world and imploring the U.S. to once again lead in the world, stating:
"We desperately need a U.S. president who is able to lead the free world and counter autocrats...right now, the [global] village is burning...we need a policeman to restore order; we need a firefighter to put out the flames."
He goes on as to the consequences of the apparent reluctance to lead:
- "Middle East is torn by war"
- "Libya has collapsed and become a breeding ground for terrorists"
- "Resurgent Russia has brutally attacked and grabbed land by force from Ukraine"
- "China is flexing its muscles against its neighbors"
- "Rogue state of North Korea is threatening nuclear attack"
Oh, and I think he forget this one, but another WSJ piece captured it:
- "One year after Iran deal, Iran's right's violations and aggression continue [unabated]"
But aside from fighting terrorism and despots in the world, even when it comes to fighting for critical civil rights, there is weakness and disillusionment (today from Jason Riley in the Journal):
"By almost any traditional metric,--home-ownership, median incomes, labor participation, poverty--blacks are worse off today than they were at the start of Mr. Obama's first term."
This country cannot lead with it's head down and it's hands tied!
It's way past time to pick our heads up high and buckle our belts and get back in the ring to fight with belief and determination for what is right for us and the world. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 16, 2016
State Of U.S. Relationships
Here is the current state of a sampling of U.S. relationships with other countries around the world.
As the "superpower" and as a people who strongly value freedom, democracy, and human rights, as well as a people mainly of faith, we have the obligation to do good in this world.
Also, we recognize our imperative to maintain strength and promote peace, prosperity, and betterment for all mankind.
We have some enormous challenges ahead, and we had better be up to it.
There is a lot riding on this! ;-)
(All opinions my own)
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
September 8, 2016
Best Diplomacy Shirt
But never-the-less, to me, this wins for best diplomacy shirt.
"Respect All
Fear None"In dealing with others at home and abroad, we must respect everyone.
And this is not just paying lip service to others while really giving a tacit nod to derision and divisiveness.
Rather we need to have genuine respect for all people, cultures, religions, freedom and human rights.
At the same time, we must fear no one.
We need to carry a big stick, as my grandfather used to say.
That along with plenty of carrots (but used strategically and not wastefully) to positively influence the good in others.
The point is that disengagement, appeasement, and weakness benefits no one.
Rather, it encourages violence, destruction, and refugees, and global disorder.
It's time to stop fearing and running, and to make a firm stand for good and meaningful things that we really believe in.
We are not the police of the world, but we are smart, and good, and powerful, and will project and use that power wisely to ensure that good prevails over evil, always. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 7, 2016
Shooting Blanks
Just this last week...
1) China: "To diminish the US," our President is forced to disembark from the underbelly of Air Force One, because they wouldn't give him mobile stairs, let alone a red carpet welcome, while they continue the illegal buildout in the South China Sea threatening freedom of navigation of the seas.
2) Russia: Russia stares down our President and ignores 17 U.S. overtures to end the more than 5-year civil war in Syria that has cost over 400,000 lives, made 5 million refugees, and over 8 million more displaced, and let's not even talk about Ukraine.
3) Iran: For the second time in as many weeks, Iran has sent numerous speedboats to harass U.S. Navy ships in international waters in the Persian Gulf, and this after it was just disclosed that we sent 2 more plane loads of cash to Iran--3 in total for $1.7 billion to "leverage" another hostage release by Iran--and after we chased them on a deal to remove sanctions on their dangerous nuclear WMD development.
4) North Korea: 3 more midrange ballistic missiles were fired from North Korea toward the Sea of Japan in a continuing escalation of hostilities there on top of prior long-range and submarine-based missile launches further threatening the U.S.
5) Laos: Even in the traditionally friendly country of Laos, the President is snubbed by terrible name-calling and insults and is forced to cancel his meeting with their leader.
6) Trade pacts: Whether your looking east or west, both the Transatlantic Trade Deal (TTIP) and the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) are dead, while Brexit is a fait accompli, the setback to the world economy, trust, and collaboration is tangible.
7) Terrorism: The "U.N. warns of growing Islamic terrorist threats" as more than 500 have been murdered in the last 6 months alone from Belgium to the U.S., and the threat growing from a more decentralized worldwide terrorist apparatus, as well as the potential employment of weapons of mass destruction.
Whether with regards to other world powers or global alliances, our standing in world affairs in troubling at best and seriously threatened at worst.
As long as we are shooting blanks of blue stardust, we will continue to lose credibility, respect, and the ability to effect positive change and influence in an increasingly dangerous world. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 22, 2016
Antisocial Social Club
Pink hat.
Big round white sunglasses.
And a shirt that says:
"Antisocial Social Club"
Truly, if he was anymore antagonistic to the norms of society, he'd probably be unloading an AK47 into an unsuspecting innocent crowd somewhere.
Okay, maybe that's a little extreme, then again not really in this day and age of global terrorism where beheadings, suicide bombers, burning and stoning people alive, and child abductions and sex slaves are now the norms in certain outrageous societies.
And if those are the norms in certain places, what in the world would be considered antisocial behavior there???
So a pink hat, big sunglasses, and an antisocial t-shirt in free America--that ain't nothing anymore.
Antisocial with a big "Anti" now means death and apocalyptic destruction and global disorder.
As to our weak politicians who can't can stomach calling a mass phenomenon of psychotic antisocial personality disorder, antisocial--well you can judge what's wrong with them for yourself.
Why does it matter?
It matters only to those of you who have a moral compass to live by and who care about what normal even is--too bad our political elite are missing the substance of this. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 21, 2016
Why Are We So Unconfident?
"We are strong!
We are positive!
We will survive!"
Does someone who says these things sound like they really believe it or far more likely, it is that they need to tell themselves these things, because they are really not feeling so confident after all?
What's the unfortunate message behind these words?
- We spend $610 billion on defense--more than the next 8 super nations combined--yet somehow we feel vulnerable and weak, especially with terrorism and a resurgent Russia and China.
- We are so fortunate to live in freedom, democracy, seeming prosperity, and have everything to be positive and thankful about--yet 80% are dissatisfied and think we are heading in the wrong direction.
- We are the world's superpower of nations--with wealth, armaments, a seat on the UN security council, and more than 800 bases around 80 countries in the world--"more than any other people, nation, or empire in history," yet most Americans think we're faring poorly and that their children will be worse off than themselves!
How can so much security result in so much insecurity?
The answer should be obvious.
When people don't believe in the wisdom of their leaders, then no matter what they have or spend or where they are coming from, they are at risk of losing it all.
Poor leadership means corruption, fraud, waste, abuse, and absolute bad decision-making for this nation.
We don't believe we are strong, because we see other nations spending less on their defense, yet getting more in terms of security for the people.
People don't feel positive, because they don't see good decisions being made, progress toward a better future, and confidence in the future being shaped.
Questions about our very survival are surfacing because:
- We have seen millions of jobs disappear to our competitors overseas
- Our national debt balloon to near catastrophic levels (and with no tangible benefit to average Joe citizen as everything from our education system to our roads and bridges are falling apart)
- Bankruptcy to the critical entitlement pillars of Social Security and Medicare are being regularly forewarned.
- Corrupt politicians who are supposed to be looking after us and effectively governing us are instead doing terrible wrongs, yet they are endlessly allowed to be above the law.
- There is non-stop global terrorism and a reluctance to even call it what it is let alone truly fight to win.
- We face out of control proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and yet remove sanction and release hundreds of billions of dollar to the largest state sponsor of terrorism and human rights abuses.
- Open hostility to the U.S. is present as nations are doing what they want whether it terms of nuclear and ballistic missile development and testing in Iran and North Korea, using chemical weapons on civilians in Syria, annexing Crimea, buzzing U.S. planes and ships and conducting cyber war by Russia, and orchestrating a vast military build up in the South China Sea--and all without meaningful consequences.
So everyone repeat after me:
"We are strong!
We are positive!
We will survive!"
If you say it enough, you may actually start to believe it.
Then again, if you start listening to your true inner feelings, you may start to see the vast political gimmickry being played out on you. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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