July 28, 2007
H&I Fires* 28 Jul 07
Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
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Over at Stop The ACLU, a silly liberal joke...
Hugh Hewitt on the war, more specifically, Congress and Al-Qaeda.
This will be a busy weekend at the New Castle - so's all y'all may have to entertain yourselves... which is what this post is for, after all! -the Armorer
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American Idol finalist and former Marine Adam Gracin shows his true colors in "making a fan's year."
Apparently the Washington Post is not learning from TNR's mistakes.
A former SFC has been corresponding with Scott Thomas Beauchamp's 1SG. I don't know whether it's proper or not, but what the 1SG says interesting both in and between the lines.
Finally, a couple stories that may have gotten loss in the Scott Thomas brouhaha:
Captain's Quarters on the subject of Congress and executive privilege. Short version? Congress is gonna regret it.
The utter impossibility of actually putting the fairness doctrine to work.
Finally, Powerline catches CBS Evening News in the act of journalistic malpractice: "The obvious inference is that CBS has deliberately chosen to mislead and misinform its viewers on the most vital issue of our time. I would much rather not believe that. But what other explanation can there be?" - FbL
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Sigh! yet another Myth busted. - BOQ
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In the spirit of Pvt B, but in no way implying any such action be taken, a little humor on "wall to wall counseling" (now the civilians among us may have a clearer idea what the milbloggers are talking about)
In contrast, New Zealand Soldier awarded the Victoria Cross for carrying his wounded comrade away from the battle field under very tough conditions.
Just in case you're confused, like some people are, about rather Al Qaeda in Iraq is really Al Qaeda (the newest old line of attack on why we shouldn't be in Iraq: the bad guys aren't there): Iraq is the Central Front
Suing the VA - This is an extremely touchy subject involving the death of a young man who seems obvious was having major psychological issues. Yet, while this presents the VA without any defense for it's actions, basically implying that they turned this young man out without any resources leading to his death, there are parts of this story (huge parts) that are missing about the entire process and services offered. We'll have to wait for more of the judicial process.
-Kat
Okay, it'll be a slow day, I'll continue the torture...
Here's another piece of the puzzle of the whatziss...
This might jog a few memories - especially of those who have no doubt been reading, but not participating thus far.
July 27, 2007
H&I Fires* 27 Jul 07
Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
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First up - it's *someone's* Natal Day!
Click the pic to find out who's birthday it is!
The pic *is* an accurate portrayal of the individual concerned... and even *I* don't know what that important Valour-IT announcement is. -the Armorer
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Allowing for the fact that some of these threats are probably coming from disgruntled Sooner Fans (hey, dudes, you lost, get over it) the others come from people firmly mired in pre-1950's America and the world. Yo, people, welcome to the 21st Century. Get with the program.
SWWBO wants one of these. Fine with me. There might be a terrible spray paint accident in the barn one night... (yes, I know it's 'shopped). -the Armorer
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T-2.5 days and counting to the arrival of *this* at the Castle... -the Armorer
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IPB
Ry is on the road, doing Good Things, if Unappreciated. He submits this week's IPB via email.
*That's* dedication, folks.
Here’s a piece that attacks many lines of thought about what creates and defeats terrorism. Economic determinism takes a hit. So does the capitalism inspired ‘a rising tide raises all boats.’ They’re going with a variant of the Treaty of Versailles as cause for Hitler and WW2 theorem. (http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2007/a_matter_of_pride_4529)
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Does the ‘liberal peace thesis’ (the idea that extending Enlightenment values and ideas unlocks the innate peacefulness of a people/society) always work in the real world? Is war inherently ‘development in reverse’? Not according to the author of ‘The sense that war makes.’(http://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization-vision_reflections/war_sense_3970.jsp) War, any war but civil wars in particular, are transformative events is the take home message here.
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van Creveld(author of Supplying War) speaks about the nature of ‘power’ and how it changes over time in contests between the weak and strong(http://www.bepress.com/til/default/vol7/iss1/art1/).
The abstract of his paper:
The nature of war has been widely misunderstood. Far from being the continuation of policy, as Clausewitz and his present day "neorealist" followers think, in many ways it follows the rules of sports. In particular, the resemblance to sports ensures that, in a long conflict, in which the strong beat down the weak, the former will lose strength, whereas the latter will gain it. This logic has profound implications for counterinsurgency operations, including those ongoing in Iraq.
(You’ll have to do a free reg with Berkeley Press to see the actual pdf, I’m unable to post a direct link).
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A differently reasoned call to not end the mission in Iraq is presented at War in Context than one we typically see at Castle Argghhh!. A call to not end the mission in the name of pluralism(http://warincontext.org/2007_07_08_archive.html#745196605713629357).
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Word from the CBRN/disaster preparedness realm is over at Sigger’s ArmchairGeneralist(http://armchairgeneralist.typepad.com/my_weblog/cbrn_defense/index.html). The latest deals with the state of destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles in the US, but there’s a bit more in the archive of interest(except for Maggie since he slags the latest Die Hard movie there too.).
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David Halberstam’s latest in Vanity Fair questioning the reasoning used, or if any, by the current Administration in public speeches about the Iraq War. Basically, I think of this as a report card on how well the war is being ‘sold’ to the public/effectiveness of ‘Strategic Communications’. Not that Vanity Fair is the most impartial source, but its criticisms seem rather representative of the 60+% who now think OIF was a mistake.
--ry
Continuing the Whatzis.
Okay, as I expected, you guys figured out the Ideal loading tool.
But you had trouble with the second part.
Okay - here's more info.
Not that it will be all that helpful - but who knows?
Well, Jim C knows, because he dropped by the office yesterday and forced me to reveal it - so he can't play this one anymore.
Suffice it to say it's *not* an early socket wrench, as he offered up!
Toluca Nole sends...
March 6, 1836
On that fateful day, Davy Crockett woke up and walked from his bunk on the floor and walked up to the observation post which was on the west wall. Col. William B. Travis and Jim Bowie were already up there.
As the three gazed at the hordes of Mexicans moving steadily towards them, Davy turned to Bowie with a puzzled look on his face and asked,
"Jim....are we landscaping today?"
I don't care who you are, that's funny!
Lord, I apologize, and please be with the pygmies in New Guinea...
Snerk!
Hey izzit me, or are these guys older than the gun?
Union Civil War re-enactors from New York fire two-gun salutes with a Parrot rifle at the 90th anniversary celebration of Fort Dix, New Jersey, July 18.
Of course, they're all younger than Bill. Even the original guns...
Of course, a gun like that would look good snuggled between the Castle flagpoles...
Hi-res available here. If you want the original (about twice the size of the higher-res one) drop me an email.
July 26, 2007
H&I Fires* 26 Jul 07
Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
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From MNF-I:
U.S ambassador reports on Iraq, Iran talks
Baghdad revives as surge, economic programs take effect
Iraqi doctor jump starts immunization program
Stallion Engineers lend hand to Iraqi Army counterparts in Al Awad
Soldiers, NAC work together to refurbish School in Saliyih
Treating Tebarek: Combat Medic cares for Iraqi Child
Note to terrs: If you buddies are dropping all around you, and you can't see where the fire is coming from - no point in running, just stand up and surrender... you're on candid camera and running means you just die tired. Like this guy.
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Chuck Simmins: This is why I continue to count the enemy dead.
Jules Crittenden: Get nekkid for 'Murica!
John Hawkins has the Rightosphere Temperature Check. I was *much* more in line this time.
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Bourne vs. Bond - what do you think? - Damian
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A scalp! An honest-to-goodness General Officer scalp. Retired LTG Kensinger faces demotion (that's a significant lifetime loss of income to go with the humiliation) for his role in the Pat Tillman fiasco. Good. -the Armorer
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In light of the Thomas Affair, a couple notes on information warfare and counterinsurgency:
From Tiger Hawk: Coercion and Cooperation
Not long ago, the Armorer posted a piece about using the appropriate terminology to describe Al Qaeda and similar terrorists. Instead of using "Jihadi" or "Mujihadeen" we should use "takfiri" or "Mufsidoon". Both terms means someone who has either gone outside of Islam or is a sabatouer. This was to take away the legitimacy of these fighters in the eyes of common Muslim on the street. Walid Phares argued that this change in language was not designed to align us with the appropriate language, but a "bait and switch" to turn experts away from investigating "jihad" and the religious activities that create those willing to martyr themselves in a decidedly unholy manner. Is he right? On Language in Information War
The Counter Terrorism Blog also notes another important issue: Propaganda in the US Media and they aren't talking about ours. They note the latest editorials in several large papers from individuals who are designated terrorists or associated with designated terrorist organizations like Hizbullah and Hamas. Imagine that it is 1943 and Goebbels is allowed to write an editorial about the aggression of European Nations, the American Imperialism and their alleged dark overlord, the Jews against the peace loving, self defending Nazis who feel they were economically and physically oppressed after their defeat in World War I. They had every right to take back their land and defend themselves against the aggressor didn't they?
-Kat
One more: A short video and commentary on internet Jihad.
Okay...what the heck: I want to be Scott Thomas or Me, the Squirrels and My Kill Book
Pity Private Beauchamp, he's just misunderstood and defamed.
"Scott Thomas" steps out of the shadows as Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp.
Private Beauchamp has stepped into the light, because, well, his, urm, character has been questioned.
I am Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp, a member of Alpha Company, 1/18 Infantry, Second Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division.My pieces were always intended to provide my discreet view of the war; they were never intended as a reflection of the entire U.S. Military. I wanted Americans to have one soldier's view of events in Iraq.
It's been maddening, to say the least, to see the plausibility of events that I witnessed questioned by people who have never served in Iraq. I was initially reluctant to take the time out of my already insane schedule fighting an actual war in order to play some role in an ideological battle that I never wanted to join. That being said, my character, my experiences, and those of my comrades in arms have been called into question, and I believe that it is important to stand by my writing under my real name.
--Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp
According to AKO, he is assigned to the A Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, Vanguards, of the 1st Division of Foot, Schweinfurt, Germany. First fact check holds up! I suspect Private Beauchamp is also now the subject of LTC Glazer and CSM Choudri's personal attention. He seemingly blogs. Be interesting to see how that all goes - and I'm sure that it will go carefully, so as to not have any "i" undotted, nor "t" uncrossed.
That being said, my character, my experiences, and those of my comrades in arms have been called into question....
Imagine that. Private Beauchamp feels maligned and slandered by all the negative attention brought to his writing.
Um, well, yes, we have called into question your character - and your characterizations of your experiences have, shall we say, a certain fabulist, Eve Fairbanks-ish cast to them.
However, regarding character - by your own petard are you hoist, my son.
“I think she’s f*****g hot!” I blurted out.“What?” said my friend, half-smiling.
“Yeah man,” I continued. “I love chicks that have been intimate—with IEDs. It really turns me on—melted skin, missing limbs, plastic noses . . . .”
“You’re crazy, man!” my friend said, doubling over with laughter. I took it as my cue to continue.
“In fact, I was thinking of getting some girls together and doing a photo shoot. Maybe for a calendar? ‘IED Babes.’ We could have them pose in thongs and bikinis on top of the hoods of their blown-up vehicles.”
My friend was practically falling out of his chair laughing. The disfigured woman slammed her cup down and ran out of the chow hall, her half-finished tray of food nearly falling to the ground.
The only person who laid targeting tics on your buffoonish butt is... yourself.
Grow up, boy. Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame - and I'm sure Senator Kerry can find a place for you on his staff after your enlistment is up.
Update: Baldilocks apologizes. Very specifically, however.. I don't think I've got anything to apologize for - I called him fabulist, and stick by it. And I'm guessing, if he's been in as long as he seems to have been, and is a E2... well, he may not be that great a soldier, discipline-wise, either.
But he's there - he's put his butt on the line. I have to give him that. And he's stepped forward. I just hope he doesn't live down to Kerry-esque expectations.
Of course, he may be an E1 before this is all over. Which will just add to his street-cred when he writes the next "Platoon."
A different Baghdad Diarist.
Much better than TNR's "Scott Thomas." Far more authentic, no fabulism - and doesn't sugar coat anything, while still showing the basic humanity of the American soldier. H/t, Jim C.
UPDATE # 20 July 20, 2007
“Six, this is five, ya see the smoke?”“Roger, looks like it’s in our sector”
“Check it out?”
“Please”
We turned right, back into the heat instead of left and back home. An afternoon meeting and lunch with a panel of retired four star generals making their rounds at the beck and call of some congressional or presidential commission had gone exceptionally well. Nothing else was on the schedule and the previous few days had been hectic, so we were going to pack it in early. But a tall pillar of black smoke was a pretty clear indication that the plan was changing.
We had not heard the explosion earlier. Acoustics in the city continue to baffle me, some of the largest booms go completely unmissed, yet a distant boom will roll me out of bed over the sound of both air conditioning and headphones. Without having heard it, the visual signs brought the event together pretty quickly. A car bomb had detonated just off the side of a main road, and had ignited four of five cars adjacent to it. The cluster still burned intensely, while a crowd of Iraqi Police looked on. National Police Shurta, from one of our subordinate battalions, scurried around trying to restore some order. Several hundred meters down the road it looked like one of their truck had been shredded. We pulled up as close as seemed prudent and dismounted.
Sam and I wadded into a crowd of locals and IPs asking questions. As the story started taking shape, an American platoon arrived to help secure the area, followed shortly by Iraqi fire trucks. The well practiced crew doused the raging fuel fires in white foam, leaving the charred automotive remains in a drenched cluster. The car bomb had detonated as a national police convoy had passed by, on its way to deliver dinner to one of the checkpoints. The fire had been raging for somewhere between twenty to ninety minutes depending on who you asked. Iraqis are hopeless at telling time, so I suspect it was closer to twenty as my team was the first on the scene, and the road is heavily trafficked by military convoys.
Determining the casualty count was equally frustrating. The wounded had all already been thrown into the back of national police trucks along with the dead. The whole lot taken hastily to a nearby hospital. As the numbers sorted out, it looked like one national policeman killed with nine others wounded. The residents suffered as well, with another Iraqi national killed and four of them wounded. As the cars became safe to approach, we were relieved to find that no one had burned to death inside. A small mercy. While my dismount team asked questions, the vehicle crews passed the appropriate reports, and got in touch with Bahaa, he would be out shortly.
General B was not going to be happy. The side road was blocked to through traffic by a chain and bollard fence. That allows the neighbor hood to limit entry to a few checkpoints, and by and large provides an increased sense of security to the residents. But it has the unfortunate side effect of creating a small parking area. This area, along with a variety of others in the neighborhoods busy market districts have long been a concern as they provide a tempting target for car bombs. The General has been working diligently with the neighborhood councils, and police to prevent residents from parking in these most dangerous areas, but has met with less than satisfactory results. The paradox of improved security is an increasing unwillingness on the part of the population to follow the precautions that allowed things to get better. Today it was clear that the local police forces inability to force the no parking rules had had terrible consequences.
While I mused on General B’s likely response, the National Policeman on the scene continued to try and keep curious onlookers away. They were pretty hyped up, having just evacuated so many casualties, but the major in charge was doing a creditable job of keeping order. And then things went to shit.
Across the divided highway from where I watched, and on the other side of the now smoldering cars was a small row of businesses, all with their security fences lowered, thier windows shattered from both concussion and shrapnel. A pair of shurta kept onlookers at bay. One, I would learn later took his rifle and knocked out a piece of broken glass from one of the store fronts. Hard to say why he did it…frustration, anger, ill intent? Regardless, the populace always assumes the worst about the police, and was immediately stirred into motion. Watching from and adjacent courtyard, a Sudanese man emerged, making a bee line to the store. Confronted by the police, he began a shouting match. I have no idea what was said, but the previously efficient major began beating him. Within seconds, others emerged from the courtyard, and the shurta closed into a tight knot. Rifle butts and batons emerged.
“Doc, Koast, on me!” They had been looking the other way, but quickly understood. They and Sam joined me in the sprint across the burning wreckage and into the crowd. In those seconds an old black berka clad women and several more men had joined the fray, with the major now steadily smacking the crowd down. We each grabbed a Shurta and flung them from the group, our sudden appearance surprising enough to get all parties to separate and desist. The major didn’t need a terp to understand my command for him to get back to his truck. All was quiet for the few seconds it took for everyone to catch their breath. And then the verbal assault on Sam started, as an ever increasing crowd tried to talk at once. I try to never to show anger when talking to the locals, but they were trying my patience. Eventually I pried the victims of the fight from all the extraneous witnesses and started hanging facts on the skeleton story I had observed.
The Sudanese family lived adjacent to a string of money exchanges. The first man from the courtyard was paid by the owner to be the security guard. When he saw the young shurta break the glass, he assumed it was an attempt to use the explosion as an opportunity to loot the money exchange. I have no idea what he said to the major, but given his agitated state, I am certain it was confrontational. Iraqis are outrageously vocal in their disrespect of all civil servants. On the other side, I have little doubt that the Shia Major was more than anxious to beat down a foreign and almost certainly Sunni outsider, who was so blatantly challenging his authority, at the scene of an explosion. The Sudanese man could very well have been the trigger man, given the location of both his house and shop.
While I gathered up what appeared to be the local leaders and lectured them all on the need to work with the police and not deliberately provoke them, General B arrived and waded into the Iraqi security forces with every bit of the fury I had expected. Gathering up both the National Police Major, and the Iraqi Police captain responsible for the area, a load and public tongue lashing ensued on their failure to do their duty and prevent cars from parking in the area. The major, who at this point was not thinking anything through bowed up and argued back. B. skipped his notorious finger waving rebuke and escalated straight to an arrest order, sending the major in disgrace back to the trucks. The captain, with more sense, took his medicine. Having vented his initial frustration, I walked over to him and caught him up on what had happened. The situation was largely under control, all we really had to wait on was EOD to show up and reduce an orphan explosive which had been blown clear and lay in the median. A few cracked 60mm mortar rounds that had not gone off in the main blast.
Within minutes, Mr Jammal, the head of our district’s Ammanant (the cities public works organization) arrived. A small, penguin like man, who is always immaculately dressed, he is a constant feature amongst the people of our district. Much like B, he is always out and about, and is a bit of a media whore, often taking credit for projects initiated by coalition forces. But in spite of that, he is one of the few who legitimately seems to working for the good of the people, and is part of the solution. His team of workers immediately began sweeping the streets and removing the signs of violence. Getting the area quickly back to normal is an important part of the process. While the sweepers cleaned, the Sudaneese family brought out water jugs for B’s policeman. The difference in the manners between those my team works directly with, and others is often night and day. With any luck our actions mitigated the previous abuses to some degree.
The EOD team arrived after almost an hour. A young sergeant declaring that this was “his” incident scene and barking orders. That kind of statement is almost deliberately calculated to piss me off, and wasn’t well received by B either. Our work largely complete, and the threat of half a mortar round, being largely insignificant I decided it was time to go. “Saydee, lets go to the hospital and check on your shurta…they don’t need us here.” He jumped into my HMMWV. His trucks scrambled to mount up and followed us south.
We pushed our trucks into the crowded entry of the hospital. Sam, Doc and I trailed in B’s wake as we pushed into the emergency room surrounded by a swarm of B’s personal security detachment. It was complete bedlam, and the introduction of another fifteen did nothing to help. National policeman from the unit that was hit crowded the waiting area, while their wounded comrades were being worked on inside. There was no method to the madness, and as we worked our way in, a gurney was working its way out. B pushed passed to start asking questions, I backed out to keep from being part of the problem.
Inside the emergency room, a tall Iraqi Lieutenant Colonel saw me and frantically pushed through the crowd towards me. In perfect English, he introduced himself as the ministry of defense liaison to the hospital, and that the man that had just wheeled out on gurney was a shurta that had been injured in the car bomb. His femur was crushed, and he was past what the local facilities could do for him. The bleeding was too much. They were loading him up into the ambulance to take him to the best hospital in Baghdad, but that was at least a forty minute ride, and at this time of day probably twice that.
“Doc, Sam, go find out what you need from the doctor. LTC Fahil, we will take him to the CASH in the green zone. Is he in the ambulance now? Tell the drivers to follow the second HMMWV. B! Mount up, were taking this one!” I vaguely heard the LTC’s thanks, but the relief in his eyes was obvious. We burst back out into the afternoon heat. This was turning into a long day. MAJ B was on the ground outside the truck. “Were heading to the CASH! That ambulance is coming with. DOC has the report, get him on the medivac net. B, come with me, have your guys wait at the bridge.” The seven kilometer race began.
The trip didn’t take long, but seemed agonizingly slow. Every speed bump fraying the nerves. Entry control points, designed to save lives, now frustratingly delaying attempts to save one. We made contact with the CASH so they were expecting us. The team helped transfer the patient to a small ATV for movement into the emergency room, an American medic taking over from the Iraqi ambulance crew. B, Doc and I shed our gear, and were escorted inside while the team parked the vehicles nearby. Our walk was largely silent. A few quick questions as we went inside linked us up with the right set of staff. We found seats in the corner. I consumed a bottle of water in seconds. B declined and paced, as anxious as I have ever seen him. At the reception counter the staff chatted quietly and joked and talked happily about whatever kept them going from day to day, while the young shurta lay inside. I clenched my fist, knowing that they saw this every day, it was part of their world. I had no right to judge.
Minutes later, a tall doctor emerged; tossed blood stained gloves into a waste can and approached me. He determined I was who he was looking for. “The patient arrived with no pulse. We conducted a scan to determine if there was any brain activity to attempt resuscitation. He was dead before he got here.” He turned, and walked away. That was it. Nothing else. Just one more dead Iraqi. I should have punched that ****er.
Doc coordinated getting the shurtas remains back out to the ambulance so we could take him home. B and I walked slowly out to the trucks. Soldiers know when not to talk, and when questions with one word answers are the best defense against public tears.
“Saydee, do you know his name?”
“Not yet…”
The team waited in the shade of the large trees that make the green zone green. My crews mingled with the civilian ambulance drivers and the cousin of the young man that had until a few minutes before been struggling for life. Our premature return announced the unhappy outcome without need for the confirmation we eventually voiced. Failure is an emotion that mixes poorly with grief.
Later that night, at various times, and each in their own way, all three of the interpreters that were there that day found me. The conversations were all eerily familiar.
“Sir, I wanted to thank you for taking that Iraqi to the CASH.”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I have?
“Well, he is Iraqi, you didn’t have to do that.”
“He was human, of course we did.”
Trias inspires me...
Trias' comment on the screed by Lew Rockwell columnist Robert Higgs was an excellent piece of reductio ad absurdum.
So, me being myself, I just couldn't stand for the reductio part, and had to inflate it a bit.
But it's rather longish, so I stuck it below the fold, in the Flash Traffic/Extended Entry.
So, c'mon - come to where... Ev'ry bullet is Sacred!
July 25, 2007
H&I Fires* 25 Jul 07
Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
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Heh. The summer of looking over our shoulders - terrs in the shadows, politicians stumping for work. A perfect storm... of course, it will only be worse next summer.
From the news yesterday - the Commander of NORTHCOM (responsible for the defense of the continent):
WASHINGTON - A top U.S. military commander said Tuesday he believes there are al-Qaida cells in the United States — or people working to create them — and the military needs to triple its response teams to counter a growing threat of attack.
Next headline? Airports warned about terror dry runs.
WASHINGTON - Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.
But remember - the Dems in Congress want you to consult your lawyer before reporting anything suspicious. I suppose it will be okay to report falling debris from exploded aircraft... after all, it might hit a "protected class" of citizen on the ground, and we can't have that.
Update: Apparently the Dems have reconsidered on the John Doe issue. Good on 'em. If it makes it through to the President's desk, without some poison pill inserted, of course. By either side.
Moving on - MIchelle Malkin points out something I *really* dislike about Really Blue Dems and guns.
Speaking of guns, property rights, and the role of government... Mike Adams on a subject I wrote papers on for my Master's: Suitable Targets and Capable Guardians. -the Armorer
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Baldilocks on "Scott Thomas." A take similar to mine, better documented and supported. H/t, CAPT H. -the Armorer
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Cassandra, in full, juicy, meaty flower. Ahhh. Roast Kossack. Tasty. I like Cassie's recipe. -the Armorer
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It's here--the bionic hand. - FbL
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What's wrong with this speech?
Theodore Sorensen, a gifted speechwriter ("Ask not what your country can do for you...") has written a proposed acceptance speech for the Democrat nominee:
“In this campaign,I will make no promises I cannot fulfill, pledge no spending we cannot afford, offer no posts to cronies you cannot trust, and propose no foreign commitment we should not keep. I will not shrink from opposing any party faction, any special interest group, or any major donor whose demands are contrary to the national interest.”
But wait! It get's *better*!
“Nor will I shrink from calling myself a liberal in the same sense that Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, John and Robert Kennedy, and Harry Truman were liberals – liberals who proved that government is not a necessary evil, but rather the best means of creating a healthier, more educated, more prosperous America.”
Hmmmm.
...liberals who proved that government is not a necessary evil, but rather the best means of creating a healthier, more educated, more prosperous America.
Riiight. One can only *hope* the Democrat nominee gives that speech.
I'm not an anti-government type. I'm not even really a minimalist government advocate. I believe that government has a real, and useful role to play in society - and I recognize that things have changed since the Founders wrote that amazing document.
But...
Let's ask ourselves - do we want VA SecretaryJim Nicholson and the Congress to run the health care system with the same efficacy that they've managed the VA? Government doesn't police itself that well, as Walter Reed pointed out. Remember the mail? The Postal Service said overnight package delivery just wasn't possible. UPS and FedEx exist because it is possible - but perhaps not under the rules that a government agency labors under... Does your local DMV represent your preferred management paradigm? Since they are not motivated by the quest for profits, that might mean they're truly the best way forward, right?
Interestingly enough, this is a call from the same people who essentially claim that the Executive agencies of the government are worthless, feckless and corrupt... unless they hold the levers of power in the Executive Branch, when, suddenly, all is goodness and light, as if, in one, magical moment, Everything Changed.
Government has it's place. But the Federal Government is a "one size fits all" kind of beast - where solutions generated from Big Coastal Megalopoli must therefore also be the solution for small midwestern towns. Or vice-versa, as in land-management schemas designed for southern forests are applied to western mountains... etc.
There has to be a referee, an entity that can, however clumsily, mitigate the abuse of power, especially the power of concentrated capital.
But it's the restraint of abuse, not the restraint of capital and those who strive to create it, is where government, to my mind, functions best. Doing those things, that in many cases, simply can't be done efficiently, where redundancy is useful, where some waste is inescapable. Such as providing for the common defense, internally *and* externally. In acting at the margins - such as Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid - but not supplanting the private equivalents.
And the pendulum will always swing back and forth.
But one thing's for sure - the only thing I fear more than a Republican President, Republican Senate, and Republican House with with overwhelming majorities... is the Democrat equivalent.
Gimme a robust and obstructionist minority - especially on domestic policy issues.
Gimme that divided government. I really believe the truly important stuff will get done, and less mischief will occur than if one side or the other gets to run rampant.
The farm has been making me a slug on my signature topic...
...so let's do a double-whatzis today.
An easy one, and a tougher one.
First up, submitted by AFSis, is the one I suspect will be easier for the grognards among us - I got it right out, though AFSis wouldn't give me credit until I got a specific detail correct. For this one, if you get the specific detail, that will be extra credit.
The second is an item in the Holdings of the Armory of Argghhh! Go for it - though there are some among us who may actually get it pretty quick.
The answers are out there, on the web.
And if this proves too easy - I have an impossible one in reserve...