Tom Desrosier
Much of what we believe about ourselves, our world and our politics, we learned from someone else.
Sometimes, years later, we still cling to this stufff, long after its proven wrong.
Go figure...
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Cold War 2.0 Update…
I hate to interrupt.
I know - most of us are busy being mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the Democratic Convention. Why not? Bad speeches, disingenuous people with their big artificial smiles pretending to like and admire each other, and yes of course, the undeniable undertones of petty power struggles by people who should never be trusted with it…
Actually, when I put it that way, it seems pretty interesting.
But attend…
This story was linked on drudgereport.com yesterday.
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"US reviewing entire relationship with Russia" |
And these two stories were linked to drudgereport.com today.
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"Russia threatens military response to US Missiles" |
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"Demitri Medvedev raises spectre of new cold war" |
And finally, linked to digg.com...
"Russian Cruiser to test Weapons in Crowded Black Sea"
Its this last article that adds to what we know… There are at least 7 NATO ships in the Black Sea, in the guise of offloading humanitarian supplies. Included in this mix is the US Command Ship, USS MOUNT WHITNEY, that will soon be on its way from Italy.
A Command Ship? To deliver cots and bedding?
The Sixth Fleet’s Flagship?
One of the Navy’s most sophisticated intelligence and communications platforms? Delivering cots and bedding?
![Russian_Navy_Moskva_And_NATO_Ships[1]](http://dare2believe.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/russian-navy-moskva-and-nato-ships1.jpg)
And the Russian Cruiser, MOSKVA… The Russian Black Sea Fleet Flagship… Innocently out testing communications and weapons systems with all those other ships out and about?
Hmmm.
I think the standoff has begun. There’s obviously been no softening in either Russia’s or the US’s position; and even Europe is alert to the danger, having committed ships to the Black Sea.
The important thing now for the US, is to continue its presence in Georgia, accelerate arming Poland, which is an integral part of the missile treaty; and expedite Ukraine’s entry into NATO before Russia makes life hard for them.
Lots going on these days, but I think these opening salvos in this new Cold War are worth a close watch.
Ok, back to the political soap opera on TV. Hillary spoke last night at the convention. I’m sure the pundits will be talking their unmovable heads off all day about it!
Tom
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Cold War 2.0… Colder, deadlier, much improved.
World events seem to be unfolding upon yet one more Cold War. That is, undeclared hostilities between two antagonists, each lurking in doorways and behind deserted cars for opportunities to undermine the other.
Picture from www.flatrock.org
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This story describes the degrading military cooperation between Nato and Russia. |
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While this story describes the ongoing diplomatic breakdown between USA and Russia. |
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And this story discusses how Russia is escalating tensions by blockading Georgian ports. |
What’s it all mean?
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This opinion piece by Andrew Bast provides good insight, but plays the usual, "Its all Bush’s fault", blame-game. |
| Dick Morris | And juxtaposed, is this great piece; Dick is a little more even handed and insightful about what happened in the White House. |
In my opinion, both pieces have merit and provide a valuable point of view.
But regardless of whose fault it is… Here we are. And other than the part where hostilities are undeclared, and we still have Nuclear Weapons and occupying armies, this Cold War is far different.
Attend:
In Cold War 1.0, Russia had little financial leverage over the world. This time she and her allies, such as Iran, Syria and Venezuela have vast oil reserves.
In Cold War 1.0, forces were poised along the borders between Europe and the Eastern Soviet Block. In 2.0, it will be less about armies and more about oil and its inevitable leverage plied with deft skill against the European Union.
In Cold War 1.0 America and her allies were able to financially isolate the Soviet Union and outspend her in a military build-up that would later see America as the preeminent military force in the world.
This time, the Russians and her allies might attempt to do the same with us be denying, or at least influencing, the price of oil. And this at a time when America is far more vulnerable than usual due to ongoing tensions from a banking crisis, national debt and inflation.
In Cold War 1.0, the strategy of "Mutually Assured Destruction", was played out every day by two sober presidents utterly committed to self-preservation. This time, Nuclear Weapons might soon be in the hands on the likes of unstable leaders, such as Ahmadinejad, who seems bent on self-destruction.
Picture from www.jewcy.com
In Cold War 1.0, America had leaders who were capable and willing of confronting evil in the world; who fought for America, who urged our success; who had a plan to win the peace and foster the national will.
Alas, This is who America has placed its hopes and trust upon…
Picture (with some alteration) from pentagraph.com
| Senator Reid, The Senate Majority Leader said, "U.S. can’t win the war in Iraq; the war is lost." |  |
| Representative Pelosi, The Speaker of the House, said, "Iraq is a failure." |
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And then there’s Senator Obama…
As I write this, I find him a dangerous quantity. Much of what he has said comes from a heart of appeasement and non-confrontation - given that, he will allow Russia and her allies a clear and unfettered path to world dominion.
I feel he will acquiesce to provocation offered by Russia and her new allies, giving them far more advantage than is prudent.
Picture from http://www.barackobama.com
Such is the dire state of America’s leadership as we commence one of our most dangerous and challenging times.
I ask you… Who will deny Russia an opportunity to deploy missiles in Cuba this time and uphold the Monroe Doctrine? Yes, Russia is already speaking of returning to Cuba:
| This article from… |  |
| This article from… |
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| This article form | The Russian News Agency |
I ask you, who will deny Russia an opportunity to invade and occupy even more of Eastern Europe’s fragile democracies? Certainly not a tentative and timid European Union. Indeed, had they not been so fearful of Russia, Georgia would have been voted-in as NATO’s newest member.
And with the Democrat’s refusing to allow America to explore and exploit our own vast oil reserves; and given their demonstrative and palpable fear of confrontation and competition, have we not exasperated and enabled this new Cold War?
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Yes, we’d all like change to the old world conflicts and their intrigues; We all long to feel the warm and loving embrace of a nurturing hospitable planet, where our world leaders meet with clasped hands in a large circle, in some meadow, raising their voices in Koombaya! |
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Picture from www.zimbio.com
But alas.
For yet a while longer, the world is still the world. A dangerous place where the dead-eye stare from enemies seen and unseen, still abides, still machinates, still enterprises in mischief, our undoing.
And so this November, when your civic duty prompts you to vote for the leadership which will choose America’s fate in such an uncertain future, remember this well…
Is peace still peace if we’ve sold our national soul to achieve it?
Or is America better than that?
Tom
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As lofty as it sounds, its still killing!
I listened to a debate this morning between Laura Ingraham and Jennifer Stockman. Stockman represents some republican movement toward "Pro-Choice", While predictably, Laura argued for Pro-Life" (Thanks Laura).
Abortion is a tiresome, bone-weary argument that never seems to go away; with groups deeply entrenched on what they both believe are moral principals.
Picture by P. Chicago, www.flickr.com
This is the "Pro-Choice" view: Women have a right to do whatever they want with their bodies. They feel it is an unimpeachable right guaranteed under the Constitution!
Picture from www.nationalreview.com
As for "Pro-Life" - They advance a simple and moral argument: Abortion is killing and killing cannot be condoned as the undisputed and sacrosanct right of anyone!
And from here, the landscape becomes broken and ambiguous. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled via multiple decisions,that abortion is legal, but may be regulated.
To the Pro-Choice crowd, no regulation is acceptable. To the Pro-Life crowd, banning abortion is the only regulation necessary.
And so America still struggles with the the morality and legality of it all. The argument that women are entitled to an unconditional right to abortion, logically becomes the right kill the unborn child, even well into its final trimester, when the conscious mind has begun to form. Indeed! Even Obama apparently voted in favor of legislation in his home state that would cause children who survived a failed abortion, and were consequently born, to be killed through neglect.
And so we are left with this two-fold argument.
How much killing is appropriate to compensate women for their perceived lack of self-empowered. And of course, how do we define "killing".
Gee. This seems like a job for Congress. Aren’t they the ones who write our laws and make those kind of proclamations? Indeed, with Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the house, you’d think she’d be right on top of this!
Oh good. The Wall Street Journal, mentions that Congress made a number of proclamations this year. Maybe they looked at protecting fetuses.
Hmmm.
They saluted the Idaho Potato Commission’s 70th anniversary and recognized soil as an "essential natural resource."
They designated May 5-9 as National Substitute Teacher Recognition Week, and set July 28 as the Day of the American Cowboy.
Democratic Rep. Charlie Wilson of Ohio, a fourth-generation undertaker, sponsored a National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day.
Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, whose home state of Georgia has 24,000 acres planted in watermelon, pushed a resolution establishing July as National Watermelon Month.
Nope… Apparently no time to worry about the ongoing genocide of unborn Americans. Not with Dirt and Watermelons on the agenda.
Anyway, this was bothering me, and I felt compelled to write my peace. We seem to have put the most vulnerable among us as the central piece of an argument, that America should not be having.
Choice… Wasn’t that the argument the South used over slavery? Choice… Isn’t that the argument Hitler used when annexing the Hinterlands? Choice… Isn’t that the argument Iran is using over its Nuclear ambitions? Choice.
Choice… This one photograph sums it up for me (warning- this is graphic).
Choice.
Tom
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