Virtual Primal Scream

Just want to post a virtual primal scream after reading that Bush has given up golf in solidarity with the soldiers and their families. When was the last time you were at Walter Reed? Jeez. How incredibly out of touch and idiotic can you be? Do you really think that you not playing golf is going to turn you into mr. compassion man? It is so frustrating to know that the American people voted this guy into office, twice.

I'd like to send kudos to the United States military, all of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who are doing an incredible job in an impossible situation. In Afghanistan, you are understaffed, under-supplied and unfortunately, in the shadow of Iraq. In Iraq, you are hampered by stifling and possibly deadly Rules of Engagement. You have been stop-gapped, deployed multiple times and had those deployment times increase while time with your families has decreased. Yet, you are expected to be both warrior and diplomat. You need to keep your fellow soldiers safe while not upsetting the locals. You are forging democracy one village at a time because those at the top can't seem to get the job done.

I want to know where the diplomats are? Where is the State Department? Where is Condi Rice? Where is Bush? If the Iraqi government can't seem to get it together, why isn't Bush with them behind closed doors knocking their heads together.

We have asked more of you, dear soldiers, then we have in the past. We ask that you win a war, then make nice with those who have tried to kill you. We not only ask for security but also to forge together some kind of stability. It seems the politicians can send you to war, but they can't be bothered with creating peace. They are too busy with the blame game and elections. So it falls to you, young soldiers, to broker peace while making war.

My hat is off to you, my heart is out to you and always will you have my awe and deepest respect.

Following footsteps

Just got off the phone with my father. It was an hour and a half conversation about politics, gun control and the military. I'm reminded of where my opinionated nature comes from. It makes me feel good to know that I have his respect, cause he sure doesn't suffer fools. Whew. Thank you Dad for raising me the way you did. I hope that one day I will be the perfect balance between you and Mom.

Nothing Important

My Avs are playing the Canucks tonight, so it should be a very good game. They are tied in the standing for the Northwest division. My boys played well Monday night against the Flames and I am hoping that they will take that in to tonight's game. It would be nice to leap frog past them in the standings, I do so enjoy when they beat Vancouver.

I am in the middle of reading a series by S M Stirling. In it, some outside force strikes the Earth with what seems to be a type of EMP, only along with electrical power, it also knocks out combustion on an explosive level and gas pressure on any usable mechanical levels. It got me thinking about what would I do, where would I go? Would I be smart or sentimental? My parents live 220 miles from me in Nebraska. There is good farming there and lots of space, but not a lot of wild game. Some deer and pheasant. Would the mountains be better? I live in the foot hills of the Rockies, so would that be a better choice. My father has guns, but they are now useless. But if my brothers and their families all grouped together, I think that we would stand a better chance than most. One brother is a cop, one brother is a former farmer, my other half has worked construction for 15 years. My dad and the cop are both ex-military. I think that these are all advantages that would help us survive. I don't know what I could contribute, I'm a bookworm. What would I have to offer? I know I'd work hard and I know I could help, but I don't think there is a specialty that I could offer to a none electronic world. I am sort of a jack of all trades and master of none kind of person. But reading a book like that does make you think, what would I do? Where would I go? Would I take action soon enough rather than waiting around for someone to fix what's wrong. Just meanderings of the mind today. Nothing special.

I would recommend the series to those who enjoy a good adventure. Dies the Fire is the first in the series.

Go Avs!

Okay, first things first. I haven't posted since the NHL trade deadline so I have to go a little crazy over Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote and Ruslan Salei. It's so wonderful to see Peter and Adam back in maroon I can't even say. There's a little dream floating around Denver of Roy becoming the GM and Bourque taking over the coaching reigns. Wouldn't that be exquisite? Avs fans are excitedly looking forward to each game as we inch our way to the #1 spot in the Northwest Division.

Now that I have hockey out of my system, some things have been percolating that need to be poured out. Is anyone else really terrified how the United States and ancient Rome are being compared. The ancient Romans quickly rose to be the dominant force in the ancient world. The United States is the world power after only 232 years of becoming an independent nation. We are over-extending ourselves in every way, financially and militarily. It seems that after the intense patriotism following 9/11, the pendulum has swung to self-indulgent rejection of reality. Decadence is now a way of life instead of an ocassional indulgence. Corruption and indecency fills the ranks of the political leaders in charge of our future. They no longer care about the nation they serve, they only care about how they can benefit while and after they hold office. Kind of sounds like a repeat of the Roman Senate? Ringing any bells with anyone?

I don't know what to do with where we are right now. Everyone wants to bring the soldiers home from Iraq. Nice sentiment, but what happens afterwards and 50 years from now? There are consequences and if we don't do this extremely right after having made such a mess of it, we might not be able to handle the results. I'm wondering why the citizens, soldiers and media aren't banging on the doors of the State Department wondering when they are going to pull their thumb out. Shouldn't they be doing more with the Iraqi government to help them get their shit together?

I'm sure that the soldiers in Afghanistan would love to have some more support on all fronts as well. Unfortunately for them, they've turned into the ugly step-child in the GWOT, which to me is insane as this was the legitimate target out of the two.

I would like to have easy answers, but there aren't any anymore. We have become something I don't think our forefathers ever imagined. Something must be done to stop us from falling apart like the ancient Romans. And this beautiful nation becomes nothing but a fondly remembered dream.

Fed Up - Continued

Sorry about the break off in mid-thought. The Middle East is tribal and runs along the lines of a feudal society, so things aren't going to work quite like they do here. They need someone incredibly strong and magnetic to be their leader. The last leader that was able to get the Sunni's and the Sh'ia to work together was Saladin during the Crusades in 1187. So, what are the chances of such a leader showing up now.

I'm just fed up, because I don't know what to think. I think that we need to take a look at what the Soviets did wrong in Afghanistan and make sure we don't make the same mistakes. I think that since we did invade Iraq, for whatever reasons that when we pull out, the area will remain stablized. It's such a delicate balance between the status quo and chaos. Americans need to understand you can't think of Iraq without thinking of Iran or Syria.

The State Department has a long road to travel. Unfortunately, so do our Soldiers and Marines.

Apologies for the post being so disjointed. Just trying to clear my head after reading the morning posts.

Getting Fed Up

Okay, so I read some military blogs so I can try to stay informed on the Afghan and Iraqi front from those actually there as I've lost all faith in the mass media. But even reading these blogs, I get confused and I weeble-wobble. Are we making progress, it depends on which blogs you read. I think that the majority of the soldiers in Iraq think that we are making progress. I hope I'm right in this assumption, because the price paid so far has been too dear to pay. Afghanistan is, of course, the forgotten war. This I think is ironic, considering, this, to me, was the more justified invasion. I don't think anyone will ever convince me that Bush was justified invading Iraq. But the majority of Americans were behind him at the time of sending troops to Iraq. So the choice was made. Now that the soldiers are there and it's taking longer than anyone thought, the tide has turned and now the majority of Americans are against the war. Make up your mind people. The thought that anything in the Middle East would happen quickly is just idiotic. For better or worse, their society doesn't work that way. Look how long the Soviets were in Afghanistan, and look how that worked out. Americans assume that every other culture is like American culture and will assimulate accordingly. Come on people. Educate yourself on life outside these borders. Maybe it will help you make more informed decisions in the future before sending our troops into war. I'm breaking off mid-thought as I've got to go.