Showing posts with label War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label War. Show all posts
August 8, 2015
July 26, 2015
What's So Funny About Non-Proliferation?
Here's what they are saying online in some satire on the Iranian Nuke WMD Deal.
The Spanish comedian is talking about something else (I don't know what), but the subtitles were dubbed to make the points about the issues with this deal.
No disrespect intended to anyone, but the points illustrated are well made.
Is this how we want the world to view us?
We are hoping and praying for a real and verifiable peace.
July 18, 2015
The "Real" Reason Behind The Iran Deal
Why would the United States make a bad deal with Iran?
- Where Iran gets to keep their nuke infrastructure.
- Where they get restrictions for a mere 10-15 years and then presumably get the coveted BOMB.
- Where "managed access" for inspections has a ridiculous 24 days waiting time.
- Where the arms and ballistic missile embargo is lifted.
- Where Iran gets a windfall of $150 billion released to them for which they acknowledge they will tap for use to support terror worldwide.
- Where Iran's leadership continues to chant "Death To America," burn our flag and President in effigy, hold Americans hostage, threaten us, and insist that their hatred and fight against us will go on.
Are we going crazy?
No, there is actually a rational reason for all this.
So what's the reason--let me explain from my simple-minded thinking about all this (follow carefully)?
Iran is a Shiite nation.
Shiite's make up only a small percentage of the Islamic world around 15% (or 200 million).
However, the Sunnis make up the other 1 billion Muslims.
The Sunnis are moving through terrorist movements such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hamas and more to create a Sunni Caliphate throughout the Middle East and North Africa (and maybe beyond).
The Western world fears the terror and destruction that can come about from a Sunni Caliphate.
Also, on 9/11, The U.S. was attacked by Al Qaeda (Sunnis) and where 15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia (a Sunni Country).
The answer is the enemy of my enemy is my friend...Iran.
Iran is the largest Shiite Country with it's own ambitions for a Shiite Caliphate.
Arming and funding Iran is a bulwark against the predominant Sunnis and their ambitions for power and hegemony.
Notably, guess what? Iraq is another country with a large Shiite population, like Iran.
Hence, this is why the U.S. went into Iraq to dethrone Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, who was holding power over the Shiite population--now the Shiites there are in power.
Voila, Shiites in Iran and neighboring Iraq empowered to fight Sunnis.
They mostly terrorize and murder each other instead of seriously battling the West.
Since 9/11, there has not been a major terrorist attack on the U.S.
And if Iran is on the road to the Bomb, and this sparks a nuclear arms race in the Middle East with Saudi Arabia etc., perhaps the thinking...maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
Unfortunately, Israel who is threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran who explicitly wants to "annihilate" them is caught in the middle of all this.
But the West is more concerned with the Sunnis and Shiites battling it out, then with the fate of Israel, who we figure can be placated with some "compensation" armaments to protect themselves.
But is that enough for a country where one nuclear missile hit can mean a second Holocaust?
I am not a conspiracy theorist and never have been.
But this seems too easy. ;-)
(All Opinions My Own)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 8, 2015
Seriously Big And Out Of Order
I took this photo in Washington, D.C., and I don't know about you, but I hate when things are out of order.
We count on everything to be in normal working condition, and for life in general to function with at least a modicum of structure, process, and according to basic laws of nature.
But these days, the world is seriously off-kilter and here are just a few examples:
- Russia, post the Cold War Soviet Union, isn't supposed to do a blitkreig and just take over Crimea and fight an undeclared war in sovereign nation, Ukraine. Additionally, our vital economic partner, China, presumably wouldn't have near unfetterd access to our industrial and government secrets, including the personnel records of the entire Federal workforce.
- The major world powers comprising the P5+1 normally wouldn't treat Iran deferentially and as a negotiating equal or even more than than that with near open negotiations and crucial concessions, especially when dealing with no less than the proliferation of nuclear weapons of mass destruction.
- Terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Hezbollah, Hamas, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, and more wouldn't be taking over swathes of the Middle-East, Africa, and Asia, and we are not sure what our strategy even is or whether we have one yet.
- Advanced industrialized nations wouldn't be polluting themselves and the rest of the world towards the environmental catastrophic brink all the while denying that our lifestyle is not sustainable and that global warming even exists.
- Smart democratized nations wouldn't be living incessantly beyond their means and borrowing themselves into national debt oblivion--from Greece to Spain, Portugal, and Italy, and right here in the United States of America.
- The Center for Disease Control doesn't handle deadly biological pathogens callously and negligently with the potential for a massive lethal outbreak, while admitting to a serious pattern of safety lapses.
- Medicine isn't just another "business and medical treatments for the sick shouldn't cost $250,000 a year for a regiment of one or two pills a day, medical professionals don't simply extend quantity of life without weighing it's quality, and those in hopeless cases with severe pain and suffering wouldn't be forced to go on "living."
- The richest 1% of the world can't truly hold more than 50% of the world's wealth, live in mega mansions and drive fleets of cars, yachts, and planes, while masses of people are malnourished, diseased, homeless or in substandard living conditions.
No life is not perfect and certainly, even those perfectionists among us wouldn't expect everything is be in 100% working order all the time--things break down, accidents and mistakes occur, and sh*t happens--but when life is getting shamelessly more out of order than in order than we need to be asking ourselves some serious and potentially life-altering questions, like what the heck is going on around here? ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 1, 2015
Time Runs Out - What Are We To Believe?
1) Iran - Time runs out on deadline for a nuke deal even after "the framework" was supposedly set three months ago. And as Iran's Supreme Leader and the Iranian Parliament chant death to America, can we really believe that Iran will ever truly give up their pusuit of nuclear weapons of mass destruction (and terrorism) to use on you know who?
2) Greece - Time runs out on an extension of more Greek bailout funds, and they default on payment to the International Monetary Fund potentially leading to their exit from the Euro and the EU. With a Greek debt of $271 billion, can we really believe they will ever be able to repay this?
3) Social Security and Medicare - Time is running out on the solvency of our own social entitlement system in the U.S. For example, the Social Security Disability Trust Fund runs dry already next year in 2016, Medicare is exhausted by 2030 and Social Security by 2033. With just 16 and 19 years of funding left for these major programs that tens of millions depend on, can we really believe that magically we will dig our way out of this mega mess of a financial hole?
4) Global Warming - Time is running out on cutting carbon emissions leading to global warming and catastrophic climate change. With global warming denial still in vogue and reluctance by the industrial nations to significantly cut back on emissions in time, can we really believe that catastrophic enviornment damage will be averted?
5) War - Time is runing out as potential for eventual war looms on the horizon with China, says respected DoD Futurist, Peter Singer. With disputes in the South China Sea and with Taiwan, China bulking up on advanced weapons, and the U.S. pivoting to Asia, the fears of a serious confrontation are there. Similarly, with Russia and it's annexation of Crimea and ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine, threats to it's Balkan neighbors, confrontations on the European borders, and an increasingly nuclear and militant Russia, the Cold War is heating up. The last world war ended 70 years ago, can we really believe that the peace will continue to prevail with powerful adversaries in turbulent and uncertain times?
Yes, hopes and dreams are important, but real concrete action is too or time will simply run out and then what? ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
June 19, 2015
It's Not Working
But you wouldn't know it by how things are looking the last number of years.
Here's just the latest from reports this week:
1) The Global Peace Index: "World is less peaceful today than in 2008...Last year alone it is estimated that 20,000 people were killed in terrorist attacks up from an average of 2,000 a year only 10 years ago."
2) A Record Year In Misery: "The world has never seen a refuge crisis this bad...last year saw the total number of forcibly displaced persons rise to 59.5 million, an all time high." This is due to world conflict, general violence, human rights violations, and persecution."
3) Climate Apocalypse: "A child born today may live to see humanity's end...[as a result of] overcrowding, denuded resources, and climate change...dangerous climate change is already here. The question is can we avoid catastrophic climate change."
4) Americans Have Lost Confidence In Everything: "It not just Congress [and the President] and the economy that have Americans concerned these days...All in all, it's a picture of a nation discouraged about its present and worried about its future, and highly doubtful that its institutions can pull America out of its trough.
Maybe the worst thing is that many people are deluding themselves that everything is hunky dory.
But isn't it time for some real wins again?
To do that we need genuine good old fashioned elbow grease--that means we start with a strategy that actually tackles the issues rather than kicking the can down the road. We need honesty, not political upmanships and swell soundbite cliches.
What good is appeasement to the masses now, if it means their utter despair or demise later--for example, why should we be Greece on the brink of national bankruptcy, if instead we can be Norway with the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world?
Then comes the hard work, fortitude, and commitment to turn the tide on the bad news and losses. This mean personal and national sacrifice now in order to have better times for our children and grandchildren.
G-d is watching us, our children are questioning us, the needy are looking to us.
We are working hard, but it's hardly working!
Maybe we need to make this real simple: "Little Johnny, now take your medicine, and stop fighting Mommy, p-lease!" ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 9, 2015
From Vintage to Modern Threats
This was in commemoration of 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
My father (A'H) used to tell me about when he was in England during the war and the Nazi bombers would fly over and carpet bomb them in a blitzkrieg.
This happened night after night, and so adaptive as people are, they sort of got used to the bombardment, if that is possible to say.
After a while, instead of taking safety behind closed doors at home, people returned to go to the movies and dancing at night, even while the buildings next door were still being blown up--to the right and the left of them.
In the morning, those who survived would get up, and see what was knocked down and what still standing.
Hard to imagine living that way!
Now with new more destructive weapons (WMD, ICBMs, EMPs, etc.), we can only imagine that the destructive aftermath of WW II would be nothing in comparison to what a round III would be like.
It is crucial that we maintain our innovativeness and military superiority and not only offensively to defeat the enemy, but defensively so that we can stop whatever is coming at us whether a dirty bomb in suitcase, an ebola-type virus in an infected person or food, a drone carrying anthrax, or malware over the network.
We have come a long way in the last 70 years technologically, but the risk and stakes have also never been higher. ;-)
(Source Video: Minna Blumenthal)
May 5, 2015
Freak Accidents, Illnesses, And Events
Poof...dead at age 47!
Unfortunately, we hear all the time about these type of tragic occurrences to people.
And of course tragedy knows no bounds--so while sh*t happens everyday to people from all walks of life, we tend to pay more attention when it's someone we know and love or when it's splashed wildly in the news about fabulously successful people we admire and follow.
- Entertainer, Michael Jackson (50) dead from drug intoxication after suffering cardiac arrest.
- Actor, Robin Williams (63) dead by hanging suicide.
- Singer, John Lennon (40) shot in the back by someone he had autographed an album for.
- Martial Artist, Bruce Lee (33) died on a movie set from a cerebral edema.
- Model, Marilyn Monroe (33) dead by drug overdose.
- President, John F. Kennedy (46) dead by assassination.
Whether by a plane crash or car accident, drowning or fire, poison or electrocution, a criminal or animal attack, terrorism, war, or natural disaster, a heart attack, stroke, or cancer, through suicide, punishment, or mercy killing...regardless of the probabilities and statistics, many people never make it all the way to "a ripe old age."
We feel bad, shake our heads, say a few words of sympathy perhaps, when we hear of these lives cut short.
But like the TV shows, Six Feet Under (HBO) or 1000 Ways To Die (Spike)--there are a near endless number of horrible ways to go--and they can take you at literally any time.
While we can't stop living and just sit around worrying all the time about all the bad things that can happen, we do need to remember that anything can happen at any time (and these things are not so freakish after all)--no one is beyond the Angel of Death, no one should be arrogant, and we should make the most of every single moment that G-d lovingly grants to us. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Military Health)
March 24, 2015
Hmm...A Nuke Deal With Iran--Just Ask Why?
HATRED OF AMERICA--THEIR ENEMY #1:
1) Iran, of the Axis Of Evil, considers "The Great Satan" (as they call America) their "number one enemy", they chant "Death to America," and even hang our President in effigy.
MURDERING AND THREATENING TO RAIN DEATH AND DESTRUCTION ON AMERICANS:
2) Iran threatened brutal attacks on America as well as on the President's family, and Iranian military documents endorse a devastating EMP attack on the United States.
3) Iran says it will destroy the U.S. Navy, and destroyed a mock U.S. aircraft carrier in February!
4) Iran held our diplomats hostage for 444 days.
5) Iran through it's proxy Hezbolah killed 241 U.S. Marines in the Lebanon suicide attack.
DENYING THE HOLOCAUST AND THREATENING ANNIHILATION OF ISRAEL:
6) Iran threatens to annihilate Israel.
7) Iran is a leading denier of the Holocaust, where 6 million Jews were murdered just 70 years ago.
THE WORLD'S LEADING SPONSOR OF TERRORISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES:
8) Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism worldwide.
9) Iran is the worst human rights offender in the world today.
ONGOING DEFIANCE OF THE WORLD ON NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES:
10) Iran continues to hide their dangerous nuclear activites from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), even as they profess cooperation, seek a lifting of sanctions and legitimacy for their nuke program.
(All opinions my own)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to MEMRI via Fox News)
February 21, 2015
The Monster Under The Bed
A shiksa is a non-Jewish girl and is sometimes used to refer to Jewish women that don't follow the commandments.
A shegetz is a similar term used for a male.
Is it a bad word?
Well, let's just say it's not a term of endearment. :-)
I guess it's funny that everyone has terms for those who are not just like them.
Of course we all don't have to be and aren't the same, cut from the same mold.
But we all have to have respect for each other and get along.
I think the worst part of people being different is not even the overt jokes or off-handed remarks which can certainly be hurtful, but much more the backdoor insinuations and aggressive behaviors.
Lately, to be frank, it seems that ethnic and religious war is brewing big time in the world--anyone else notice?
Not regional, focused on oil and resources, long held dictatorships, human rights, or even "the Palestinian issue."
But rather what no one wants to talk about or confront, a battle of civilizations.
It is so scary, because this is there are big and powerful actors at play whether Russia or China playing for the world's leadership role (one overtly and the other covertly), Iran and North Korea freely wielding nukes and threateningly strutting "their stuff," and ISIS and Al Qaeda looking for the next budding caliphate and imposition of Sharia law as far and as wide as they can take it.
East meets West, democracy vs. dictatorship, religion against religion, this thing is building up steam, pressure is rising, and the question is whether and how big this is about to blow.
Shhh, if we don't say the words or we pretend to "make nice" and give out jobs, dole out handouts, and use our drones, oh so discretely, maybe no one will notice.
Are we being phobic about communism, radical Islam, budding economic and military might, and other differences, or are we pointing out what we are all perceiving, but greatly fear to face.
When I saw recently that some wonderful Muslim people were surrounding synagogues in Europe, not to attack it, but rather to encircle it to defend it, I was not only in complete awe, but also realized how many good and righteous people there are out there.
These people are actually doing something about the injustices and power grabs they are witnessing, and not trying to obfuscate or opiate the masses.
It's not just about being tolerant of others and stripping hatred from our hearts and lives, but about being truthful when others may choose not to be. ;-)
(Source Photo: Facebook)
February 12, 2015
Dancing Around Anti-Semitism+
The Washington Post yesterday stated that the President "suggested that the January attack at a kosher supermarket in Paris was in fact [just] jihadists 'randomly [shooting] a bunch of folks in a deli.'"
Hmm...are we having a difficult time being totally honest about important issues these days?
Maybe just a few examples would include, not calling:
- An anti-Semitic attack, anti-Semitism.
- A terrorist, a terrorist--such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, which are now merely an "armed insurgency."
- The fight against terrorism committed by Islamists, a fight with "radical Islam."
- ISIS for them to be destroyed anymore, only that we will "defeat them."
- Syria on the use of chemical weapons initially, saying only that if they did, "they would be held accountable" (remember that vanishing "red line").
- Iran a serious threat to nuclear non-proliferation and global peace saying, "It is not a nuclear power."
- Russia annexing Crimea, a threat to Europe and NATO, branding it just a "regional power" play.
What can we expect in terms of blind hatred, racism, discrimination, anti-semitism and future terrorist attacks and war around the globe, when we can't even call a spade, a spade, anymore. ;-)
February 7, 2015
A NATO In Shambles
Russia is the largest country on Earth covering 9 time zones and they are truly a formidable bear.
Recently, with the Russian blitzkrieg into Crimea, the West was taken by the surprise and the speed of the attack, as Russian helicopters, tanks, and soldiers violated the borders that were once Ukraine.
At the same time, Russia attack planes and subs have been probing the skies and waters of Europe, and NATO has been feebly attempting to intercept them over and over again--always on the defense.
Russia continues to upgrade their nukes and conducts nuclear games and brinksmanship, while the U.S. dismantles it's Cold War arsenals according to previous START treaty.
Last week, with the U.S considering light arms for the Ukrainians, the Russians warned that would cause "colossal damage" to ties.
When the U.S. threatened to throw Russia out of the SWIFT payment system, we were warned, "Russian response -- economically and otherwise -- will know no limits."
But as Lt. Gen. Frederick Hodges, commander of U.S. Army Europe, stated, "You can't provoke them. They're already on a path to do what they want to do."
While Russian Spetsnaz are pulling their country identifying insignia off their uniforms to make the world hesitate, question, and cower at those behind the masks, NATO is still grappling with plans on how to put together a simple rapid reactionary force of just 5,000 soldiers to get themselves together within 48 hours and then 25,000 troops within weeks.
Uh, the battle or even the war may be over by the time our sleepy NATO gets it's boots on and muskets loaded.
In the age of fiber optics and ICBMs steaming across the networks and skies, taking days and weeks to mobilize is b*llsh*t!
NATO cannot even get but 4 of it's 28 member nations to maintain the minimum 2% contribution to defense, because once defense is treated as belonging to the commons, the attitude is just let the others worry about it or the U.S. will provide the fallback for all anyway.
While Russia only worries about Russia and moves in forward thrusts, NATO dances around trying not to get speared, because they theorize now it's only Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, and so we don't want to antagonize the bear and end up being it's next dinner.
But the Great Bear is hungry for power and respect, and as NATO runs and pees it's pants, the bear smells it's prey and is in fearless chase. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with Attribution to Crown, UK Defense Ministry)
January 23, 2015
Denouncing Anti-Semitism
Heroic remarks from NYC Councilman Greenfield after pro-Palestinian activists protested the commemoration of 1.1 million people murdered in Auschwitz concentration camp in the Holocaust.
Calling a spade-a-spade...anti-semitism is once again alive and well due to acceptance and even promotion of anti-Semitism/Zionism, and unfortunately, it some cases, it seems like it's coming from the top-down!
The words and actions are fanning anti-Semitic terror attacks around the globe and even setting the stage for a regional war in the Middle East.
What a shame that we need to remind some of the First Amendment of the Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion, whatever your practices.
Protestant pastor, Martin Niemoller, famously said:
"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me."
I believe, I know, that there are many true decent human beings and real leaders out there that will speak out against the very ugly head of blind hatred and bigotry in this world.
May G-d show mercy on all his creatures and instill love, tolerance, and genuine respect for all races, colors, and religions.
January 16, 2015
Where Did I Put That Action Memo?
(Not me though...compulsive neat freak and learned from IBM's "clean desk policy" early on in my career.)
In analyzing our fight against Islamic jihadists and terrorists, Daniel Henninger in the Wall Street Journal writes:
"In all the photos published of al Qaeda, Islamic State or any other terror groups, have you ever seen them sitting at desks?"
Henninger points out the root of "Bureaucracy" is the French word "Bureau," which mean desk.
Hence, we in the West are stuck behind our desks, while the terrorists are actively working to destroy our freedom and way of life--smashing down doors and wielding AK47s and suicide vests!
We've got to stop hiding behind our piled-high desks, analysis-paralysis position papers, endless meetings, and political bickering, and actually do something concrete, meaningful, and strong--to not only deter, but destroy the enemy!
Fear of making a decision or nonsense claims that your still searching for that action memo is something that should get you uprooted from your messy desk with a boot up your a*s!
Wake up, wake up, wake up--enough ho hum, we need some leadership that is bold, patriotic, and heroic to protect what we value so dear.
Don't you think it's time to win this war for real?
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Shawn de Raaf)
January 12, 2015
Laser Defense Offense
Similar to the U.S.'s new laser defense being deployed aboard the USS Ponce in the Gulf, there is a promising new missile defense technology--"Iron Beam"--using lasers from Rafael in Israel.
This augments Israel's "Iron Dome" anti-missile defense system using intercept missiles.
Iron Beam functions with air defense radars and thermal camera tracking that identifies incoming targets and uses 2 lasers with 100's of kilowatts of directed energy to destroy the attacking projectiles with 90% success rate.
For a more surgical, faster, and economically capable military--next up laser defense goes offense.
It's got to, we've all seen the movie. ;-)
December 22, 2014
Peace To All Mankind
"May Peace Prevail On Earth."
It left me wondering, if Earth includes:
1) ISIS advances into large swathes of Syria and Iraq
2) Taliban attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan including the one that left 132 children dead in a Peshawar school last week.
3) Boko Haram kidnappings and killings in Nigeria including the hundreds of children taken and given as wives to their captors
4) Al-Shabaab fighting in Somalia including attacks in the capital, Mogadishu
5) Hamas in Gaza and their barrage of rocket attacks on and terror tunnels into Israel
6) Hezbolah in Lebanon as a proxy for Iran-sponsored terror
7) Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and threats to annihilate Israel off the face of the map.
8) Russia in Ukraine and Georgia and ongoing threats to Eastern Europe/NATO.
9) China's military build-up, including nukes, submarines, and anti-satellite weapons.
10) North Korea cyber attack on Sony and threatening "the White House, the Pentagon, and the whole U.S. mainland."
Peace is more than a wish, right now it seems like a dream. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 14, 2014
Iran: Engagement or Containment
Despite nearly endless negotiations that have gone on since 2002 (or for almost 13 years ), including yet another round of new talks that began 14 months ago and which were extended already once again...
Just this week, no less than Iran's Foreign Minister and lead negotiator made clear their position on nukes, and it is not favorable to coming to any real agreement:
Here in his own words:
- Iran insists that the U.S. must bow to Iran's "Inalienable Nuclear Rights."
- Despite our wanting to believe that a deal is possible, he states, "Some [Western] countries have fallen prey to miscalculations [about Iran's position] due to wrong analysis."
- He goes on to say, "U.S. sanctions against Iran "have left no impact" on their position.
While our goal may be for a peaceful Iran without nuclear WMD, "a goal without a [genuine] plan is just a wish!"
Hmm...is this a real partner for peace?
It is recognized that:
1) Iran has one of the world's worst records of human right abuses of their own people!
2) "Iran is the single largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world."
3) Iran threatens "annihilation" and Genocide to their neighbors in the West.
We cannot fool ourselves anymore that Iran will ever voluntarily give up their desire or pursuit of The Bomb!
Enough rewarding Iran with billions of dollars in incentives just for coming to the table with no meaningful results.
Yes ideally, we would all love to celebrate this Thanksgiving with a REAL deal for peace.
However, we don't need a bogus agreement or another meaningless extension that gets the Iranians that much closer to nuclear breakout capability and the world to the next major regional or even global war.
Albert Einstein said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Perhaps it's time to change the playbook then...
Engagement is an excellent opportunity with a partner that is willing to seriously negotiate, but containment and ultimately military intervention is necessary when talks are simply a long-running ruse or sham to dangerous nuclear WMD and world terror.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 12, 2014
Everything Else Is Anticlimactic
Before the music--60's and 70's (and some dancing)--started, there were a number of heartfelt speeches by distinguished veterans of the Vietnam War.
One lady was a nurse in Saigon working 16 hour days tending to the wounded and dying from the battlefield. She joined the army after 8 of her high school friends from her small hometown were killed in the war. The nurse told us how on the flight to Nam, they were told to look to the person on the immediate right and left of you, becuase one of you will not be coming home.
Another speaker was a special forces Army Ranger who was fighting in North Vietnam on very dangerous covert missions. He led many draftees, who he said had only minimal training, yet fought bravely on missions with bullets flying overhead and mortars and rockets pounding their positions. He described one situation where he knelt down to look at a map with one of his troops, and as they were in that psition half a dozen bullets hit into the tree right above their heads--if they had not been crouched down looking at the map, they would've both been dead.
A third speaker was a veteran who had been been hit by a "million dollar shot" from the enemy--one that didn't kill or cripple him, but that had him sent him to a hospital for 4-6 weeks and then ultimately home from the war zone. He told of his ongoing activities in the veterans community all these years, and even routinely washing the Veteran's Wall Memorial in Washington D.C.
Aside from the bravery and fortitude of all these veterans, what was fascinating was how, as the veterans reflected, EVERYTHING else in their lives was anticlimactic after fighting in the war. The nurse for example read us a poem about the ladies in hell (referring to the nurses caring for the wounded) and how they never talked about the patients in Nam because it was too painful, and when they returned home, they had the classic symptoms of PTSD including the hellish nightmares of being back there.
Indeed, these veterans went through hell, and it seems that it was the defining moment in (many if not most of) their lives, and they are reliving it in one way or another every moment of every day.
Frankly, I don't know how they did it being dropped on the other side of the world with, as the special forces Vet explained, maps that only told you in very general terms wherer you even where, and carrying supplies for at least 3 days at a time of C-rations, water, ammo, and more--and with the enemy all around you ("there were no enemy lines in this war; if you stepped out of your units area, it was almost all 'unfriendly.'"). One Vet said that if you were a 2nd Lt., like she was, your average lifespan over there was 20 minutes.
The big question before we go to war and put our troops in harms way is what are we fighting for and is it absolutely necessary. For the troops being sent to the battlezone, everything else is just anticlimactic--they have been to hell.
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
October 30, 2014
War Of The Coffees
October 28, 2014
No Way To Fight The Good Fight
While there is certainly a place for vetting issues, moderation, and compromise, often we are overly worried about the ramifications of going too far and thus don't go far enough to accomplish strategic goals.
Similarly, in a pendulum swinging out of control way, we may fluctuate and treat friends as enemies and pretend our enemies are our friends.
Whether in fighting terrorism and nation state enemies, ebola and other horrific diseases, and even righting the national economy...we don't lead, we hesitate or as many commentators have said, we lead from behind.
ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbolah and more...all alive and still terrorizing.
Russia, North Korea, Iran...not contained, and threats are growing, while questionable deals involving no less than WMD in some and territorial sovereignty in others loom on the horizon.
Cancer, parkinson disease, and a dreaded endless list...killing our loved ones and research funding goes to political juggernauts.
Our national deficit grows, social entitlements are skyrocketing and unpaid for, and we can't seem to manage our way out of a pending breadline.
There is something to be said for making a real decision based on morality and inner strength, going all in, and achieving the seeming impossible...decades ago, we did it when we put a man on the moon and defeated the Japanese in WWII.
Now we seem to fight with one arm tied behind our backs (sometimes two) and our eyes covered with hands stained in the blood of social favoritism, stealth corruption, and defeatist attitudes, and at the end of the day, with very little to show for it.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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