Response to The Big Win

I'm just not feeling it.

Sorry gang. The blood lust. The 'Big Win'. I got nothin'.

I'm refusing to feel the way I'm told that I am supposed to feel about the US's actions in the most recent of recent events.

In the morning I see headlines that Quadaffy's son and grandchildren were killed by a NATO airstrike. That was Sunday morning. Later that night, Osama Bin Laden's death is announced to the nation.

"A good day for America," was proclaimed. By the President of the United States, no less.

Teenagers converge upon the White House and the cemetery of the former World Trade Center to celebrate. Cameras pop up their microwave antennas to make a spectacle of the gathering. Chants of "USA" and impromptu singing of "God Bless America" are recorded for the world audience. At best, the home team won the football game. Gloating to the world at their prowess. At worst, the LA Lakers won another ring and LA is in flames, again.

But I don't feel good about this one.

Yes, Bin Laden was a bad man. A very, deeply bad man who used religion and blood to support his own financial and political goals. He is responsible for killing and supporting killers directly and indirectly. His death should bring the end of a bookcase of the last three decades of Middle Eastern conflict. Starting with Afghanistan and the Soviet Invasion, and ending with the Americans and Afghanistan. He was a major player in both.

But I'm not going to write a history of the man, nor make any apologies for him.

He was a bad, bad man. To quote Jack Nicholson's Joker to a burnt corpse, "I'm glad you're dead!"

Here's the thing that's bugging me. Gnawing at my gut. He was killed by an Assault squad. This just doesn't add up in the history of these sort of things.

The narrative for the death of American-bad guys, and especially the end of their most notorious Bond-Villain State Enemies, doesn't seem to fit the mold.
Hitler had the decency to spare us the trial and offed himself. He even did it twice, one with a bullet, the other with a pill -- so we've been told. Mussolini was hung by a mob. Saddam was hung after being tried. Slobodan Milošević , Pol Pot, and Stalin all died of old age. The ending for Castro and Quadaffy haven't been written -- yet.

But the video game imagined sequence of the SEAL team dropping into Osama's Waco inspired compound just seems so... too... 21st Century? It doesn't seem complete, or final. Not just yet. There's the nagging element of violence begetting violence - that begets only more violence, compounding into a death spiral. It's a cycle that tends to keep repeating itself like a scene on a scratched Netflix DVD -- especially when religion is involved. Perhaps I'd feel a little more relieved had he been put on trial in the Hague and finally executed after a lengthy 10 year show trial -- had he lived that long. Maybe people would be arguing that the Assaulters should have popped him when they had the chance and saved everyone a lot of trouble? Maybe? These tend to be the same folks who think we should have nuked his compound. It seems like a big show trial is more in the USA's narrative. At least, that's how it used to be.

And the other thing - and maybe this is something I have to get over - is that the West isn't playing chess or WWII anymore. If you off the boss your $60 Xbox game, the game is over. You Won. You now may deflower the virginal princess. Not anymore. You've got 10 or 12 other, smaller side games going on now. Yemen, Newborn Iraq, the Philippines, German sleeper cells, Pakistan double agents, and Nuclear North Korea and Iran all are all still in play. And all are much more dangerous.

On the bright, sweet, and dripping ironic side of it all, the American team takes out Osama exactly three months after he deemed irrelevant by the Arab Spring. The people of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya (maybe), Jordan, Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen all rose up -- not using Al Queda's example of the gun and the C-4 martyrdom -- but a much simpler device, their phones.

Facebook, Twitter and strong will stood up to oppression and finally brought the much desired revolution. Social media, not guns. “If protest movements access significant numbers of people, for any opposition event, they can somewhat confidently act on their political motivations and challenge the state.” [Mary Bottari The Day Egypt Disappeared PRWatch. Feb 14, 2011] Hey, will someone text that to Hamas?

Hell, take the idea that Google Executive Wael Ghonim's Facebook page “We are All Khalid Said” after an Egyptian Activist was killed by the police, organized over 100,000 people to protest on Egypt’s Police Day. How many people were ever in Osama's friend page? Who had better results?

Isn't it poetic that after the last decade, Al Queda means, "The List?"

Maybe the world will be a little more optimistic now that he's gone. Maybe it's a little safer? We can hope. And that can be very powerful. Maybe that's what I need to focus on?

Maybe it's what we all need to focus on?

Maybe we can start discussing dismantling the illegal wiretaps and 24/7 surveillance of American citizens? Maybe we can discuss drawing down the intrusive and unconstitutional TSA at our nations airports before we expand them? And those are just the items related to Osama and his gang. Perhaps we can stop exporting violence, and instead export a little more hope?

Why I'm Against US/Libyan Intervention

I've been against the bombing of Libya before I was against it.

I'm completely confused and alarmed by the seemingly haphazard insanity that Mr. Obama's approach to this particular situation, the way it's transpired, and what the long term implications are and will be.

I have, amazingly, more than one reason for my opinion.

First off, the lazy Susan of the political game has now completely turned back to the Democrats. Now they are the war-mongers. Even the biased main stream media feeds are thumping their fists into their anchor desks making wild rationals that their Commander in Chief is right -- and that multinational intervention in an oil-producing Arab country, without prior congressional approval or majority public support is A-OK. But even eight years ago, George Bush got the support of Congress - he made the Democrats sign off on it before he went in. He even had the UN support, if by only the stack of resolutions and declarations.*

*Note that prior to 2002, the UN Security Council had passed 16 resolutions on Iraq. In 2002, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441: offering Iraq under Saddam Hussein "a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations" that had been set out in several previous resolutions.

And let's also note this is while we're still engaged in that war - and Afghanistan, now this is going on while we're racking up deficits. Who's paying for it? The Arab League? What's amazing is that the media and folks who I consider "Progressives" are actually saying, “my president, right or wrong,” styled gibberish that they were falling all over themselves to mock eight short years ago.

And then there's General Joe Biden and Mr. Obama themselves. Joe and Mr. Obama were the quickest to get on a milk crate to yell that George W. Bush’s antiterrorism policies and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was more partisan than principled. Mr. Obama was against, "stupid wars." But Mr. Obama, as President, not only embraced but also expanded the tribunals, preventive detentions, renditions, Predator attacks, intercepts and wiretaps, he also hasn't closed Guantanamo Bay.

Take it a step further - now he can preemptively attack an Arab oil-exporting country without fear of his base, Hollywood, threats of congressional cutoffs, MoveOn.org “General Betray Us”, Cindy Sheehan, or the main stream media. In short, Obama has effectively and determinately ended the antiwar movement. Of course, this author would say that none of the anti-war movement had any affect on the current wars anyway. Why? Well, one, we're engaged in three active shooting wars right now! But more importantly is that it's my contention that as long as the US military remains a volunteer Army, the argument that, "they signed up for it," will prevent any real passion or 'skin-in-the-game' for the general American public.

PS - Iran, Syria, and even North Korea. Just a suggestion - but you better watch your ass.

Then there's Europe. It's been the European role to egg America on to fight their enemies and turn their head and complain that the Cowboy Policeman is an aggressive thug. It's their PR move to look like they're above it all.

But in this one, even the French got into it before the US. I'm sure the oil and all their dealings with Quadaffy have something to do with it. But the dynamic of NATO calling the shots, while 90% of NATO is American, but America doesn't want to play -- is baffling. It's against character.

Don't worry, I'm sure they'll still slap the 'Imperialism' logo on this thing if it goes south. Funny thing with these good intentioned 'kinetic military actions' is that they almost ALWAYS do.

And what, pray-tell, will happen when we don't intervene in the next protest movement in the Middle East? What about the other two wars in Africa - that are happening simultaneously? Sure they're civil wars, but don't we now have a moral obligation to protect the innocent civilians? How much will that cost?

I guess it depends if there's an oil field near the killing field.

If you want to be against this war, marching in the streets won't do it. You need to get off the oil. Stop driving so damn much, and quit buying plastic things.

This STRATFOR chart shows every energy and oil installation in Libya, offshore and on.
Every one is a European-owned entity.
[Click To Enlarge]

Happy Monday!

Anger On The Streets: Unrest In Iran, Algeria, Yemen, Morocco And China

There are peaceful demonstrations being staged in Morocco but violence breaks out elsewhere in the Middle East and Chinese police crackdown on planned unrest

Thousands took to the streets of Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakech in peaceful protests demanding a new constitution, a change in government and an end to corruption.

Sunday's protests were a test for King Mohamed VI's regime, which boasts that it is more liberal and tolerant than other countries in the region that have seen violence and revolution. But there's a bandwagon rolling - and it's now or never Read more ....

Meanwhile in the Middle East, Bahrain opposition groups mull response. Bahrain protests continue on ninth day. Iran warships to begin Suez Canal passage Tuesday. Not that this is anything to worry about... And speaking of Iran, their security forces quelled opposition protests in Tehran. Iran's forces battle protests nationwide. Yemen's Saleh says won't be forced out by "anarchy". Iraq: Bomb kills police in Shia shrine city of Samarra.

In Asia, China calls for domestic unrest to be defused. 'Jasmine' protests in China fall flat. Afghan police: At least 30 killed in suicide blast. 'Diplomatic surge' to help end Afghan war, Clinton says. Nepal caught between China and India.

In Africa, they're crushing Libya's revolt. Protesters and security clash in capital. So the protests focus on Tripoli as demonstrators set public buildings on fire. Thousands demand change in Morocco. Bodies found after Moroccan protests. Burned bodies found after Morocco protests - minister. Sudan's Omar al-Bashir 'will not seek re-election'. Uganda election: Yoweri Museveni wins fresh term, despite claims of fraud. DR Congo colonel Kibibi Mutware jailed for mass rape.

In Europe, Hamburg rout bodes ill for Merkel in election year. 7 soldiers shot dead in Azerbaijan. Estonia calls for nationwide mourning after fire kills 10 children. Iceland president forces new Icesave referendum.

And in the America's -- Ciudad Juarez sees 40 killed in violent weekend. 12 taxi drivers, fares killed in Mexican resort. Gov't shutdown threat looms over U.S. budget fight. Tar sand row threatens Canada-EU trade deal. Thousands of Aristide backers march in Haiti.

The War on Terrorism, an Al-Qaida figure believed killed in US drone strike. I wonder if he was #2? Increased U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan killing few high-value militants. Pakistan intelligence says US gunman is CIA.

And finally, Oil rises most in three weeks, gold reaches $1,400 on Mideast; stocks drop. EU, oil companies prepare Libya evacuations. Chinese telecom giant calls off US deal.

So - what, sorry, what were you complaining about? The weather? Your commute this morning? Yeah. That sucks.

Thanks to War News Updates for the content.

Virus Attack Sets Iran Back

The Stuxnet virus set back Iran’s nuclear program by 2 years

[Source]

Here's a quick excerpt:
Top German computer consultant said that the virus was as effective as military strike, a huge success; expert speculates IDF creator of virus. The Stuxnet virus, which has attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities and which Israel is suspected of creating, has set back the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program by two years, a top German computer consultant who was one of the first experts to analyze the program’s code told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. “It will take two years for Iran to get back on track,” Langer said in a telephone interview from his office in Hamburg, Germany. “This was nearly as effective as a military strike, but even better since there are no fatalities and no full-blown war. From a military perspective, this was a huge success.”

I'm starting to think that 2010 should be the year of the hacker. Between this virus attacking Iran's Nuclear sites, China beating the living tar out of Google, the Gawker password hack, WikiLeaks, the DDoS attack on WikiLeaks, and the retaliatory attacks on companies that are no longer supporting WikiLeaks (Paypall, Mastercard, Visa) or who were once supporters - Amazon, et all - I'm leaning toward making The Hacker the Man of the Year.

The Most Dangerous Man in America

Hero or Traitor?

In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, a leading Vietnam War strategist, concludes that America’s role in the war is based on decades of lies. He leaks 7,000 pages of top-secret documents to The New York Times, a daring act of conscience that leads directly to Watergate, President Nixon’s resignation and the end of the Vietnam War. Ellsberg and a who’s-who of Vietnam-era movers and shakers give a riveting account of those world-changing events in POV’s The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers by award-winning filmmakers Judith Ehrlich (The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It) and Rick Goldsmith (Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press). (90 minutes)

Read the full film description »

Watch now »

Af-Pac War

FYI: The US and NATO is currently at war with Pakistan. The US killed three Pakistani troops a few days ago. Pakistani militants responded by torching 27 NATO tanker trucks. Today the US killed 18 militants in retaliation.

From the link: The New York Times reported Friday that a senior Pakistani intelligence official had said the border incursions could lead to a “total snapping of relations” between Islamabad and Washington. At the same time, there were reports of attempts to settle the dispute by establishing a joint investigation into the US strikes.

It is estimated that 80 percent of supplies to US, NATO and allied occupation forces in Afghanistan, including 50 percent of fuel, passes through Pakistan. Which, is what one would call a bottle neck in logistics.

Funny - I don't see people marching the streets to stop the CIA's not-so-secret war. I don't see hearings in front of Congress on C-SPAN 8. I don't hear a peep?...

Sorry guys, The Forever War will last Forever.

A Special Day, Petrov Day

Today is September 26th, Petrov Day, celebrated to honor the deed of Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov on September 26th, 1983. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, take a minute to not destroy the world.

The story begins on September 1st, 1983, when Soviet jet interceptors shot down a Korean Air Lines civilian airliner after the aircraft crossed into Soviet airspace and then, for reasons still unknown, failed to respond to radio hails. 269 passengers and crew died, including US Congressman Lawrence McDonald. Ronald Reagan called it "barbarism", "inhuman brutality", "a crime against humanity that must never be forgotten". Note that this was already a very, very poor time for US/USSR relations. Andropov, the ailing Soviet leader, was half-convinced the US was planning a first strike. The KGB sent a flash message to its operatives warning them to prepare for possible nuclear war.

On September 26th, 1983, Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov was the officer on duty when the warning system reported a US missile launch. Petrov kept calm, suspecting a computer error.

Then the system reported another US missile launch.

And another, and another, and another.

What had actually happened, investigators later determined, was sunlight on high-altitude clouds aligning with the satellite view on a US missile base.

In the command post there were beeping signals, flashing lights, and officers screaming at people to remain calm. According to several accounts I've read, there was a large flashing screen from the automated computer system saying simply "START" (presumably in Russian). Afterward, when investigators asked Petrov why he hadn't written everything down in the logbook, Petrov replied,"Because I had a phone in one hand and the intercom in the other, and I don't have a third hand."

The policy of the Soviet Union called for launch on warning. The Soviet Union's land radar could not detect missiles over the horizon, and waiting for positive identification would limit the response time to minutes. Petrov's report would be relayed to his military superiors, who would decide whether to start a nuclear war.

Petrov decided that, all else being equal, he would prefer not to destroy the world. He sent messages declaring the launch detection a false alarm, based solely on his personal belief that the US did not seem likely to start an attack using only five missiles.

Petrov was first congratulated, then extensively interrogated, then reprimanded for failing to follow procedure. He resigned in poor health from the military several months later. According to Wikipedia, he is spending his retirement in relative poverty in the town of Fryazino, on a pension of $200/month. In 2004, the Association of World Citizens gave Petrov a trophy and $1000. There is also a movie scheduled for release in 2008, entitled The Red Button and the Man Who Saved the World.

Maybe someday, the names of people who decide not to start nuclear wars will be as well known as the name of Britney Spears. Looking forward to such a time, when humankind has grown a little wiser, let us celebrate, in this moment, Petrov Day.

Cross post from LessWrong.

Now THIS should be what Nobel Peace Prizes are given out for. Not 'potential' to enact change.

Batteries No Longer Included

China Blocks Export of Crucial Minerals to Japan as Dispute Escalates
Begun, the Batteries Wars, Has.

Sharply raising the stakes in a dispute over Japan's detention of a Chinese fishing trawler captain, the Chinese government has placed a trade embargo on all exports to Japan of a crucial category of minerals used in products like hybrid cars, iPads, wind turbines and... guided missiles.

Chinese customs officials are halting all shipments to Japan of so-called rare earth elements, industry experts said on Thursday morning.

SO - What're you going to do about it Japan?! Yeah, you?! Without your fancy batteries? Huh?
What? You're going to mine asteroids and the Moon?! Isn't that a bit drastic? In a 500 foot battle robot suit?

(Go on, Japan, I triple dog dare you - can't be any more expensive than fighting in Afghanistan!)

Genie Back In the Bottle?

Pentagon Demands Documents Back From Wikileaks, Wants Files Deleted

The Pentagon demanded that Wikileaks hand over classified Afghanistan war documents published leaked to the website.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell at Thursday's briefing said "the only acceptable course" is for Wikileaks to turn some 15,000 documents still being reviewed by the website back to the U.S. government and delete all the files from its website pertaining to the original nearly 92,000 documents posted July 25.

Read more ....

I'm guessing that the Pentagon doesn't understand how this whole internet thingy works?

The Pentagon Papers 2010

Afghan War Logs: Key Findings -- The Telegraph

Thousands of classified US military documents including details of when coalition troops killed civilians in Afghanistan have been released through the website Wikileaks. Here are some key findings.

– A secret unit of special forces called Task Force 373 is being used to hunt down and kill or capture Taliban leaders without trial, The Guardian reported. More than 2,000 enemy targets were on the list called the "Joint Prioritized Effects List".

– The coalition is increasingly using Reaper drones controlled by joystick from Nevada to target and kill insurgents. Files also showed that 97 missiles had been fired by British reapers since 2008.

Read more ....

More News On Wikileaks Release of Tens of Thousands Of Secret Files On The Afghan War

The War Logs -- New York Times
The War Logs -- The Guardian
The Afghanistan Protocol -- Spiegel Online
Afghan War Diary, 2004-2010 -- WikiLeaks

Wikileaks Afghanistan files: download the key incidents as a spreadsheet -- The Guardian
Afghanistan War Logs: Shattering Illusion of a Bloodless Victory -- The Guardian
Afghanistan War Logs: Secret War Along the Pakistan Border -- The Guardian
Afghanistan War Logs: Iran's Covert Operations in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
Afghanistan War Logs: Fear Taliban Could Tap Mobile Phones -- The Guardian
Afghanistan War Logs: Taliban Listening in to Top-secret Phone -- The Guardian
Afghanistan War Logs: CIA Paramilitaries' Role in Civilian Deaths -- The Guardian
Afghanistan War Logs: Civilians Caught in Firing Line -- The Guardian

Inside the Fog of War: Reports From the Ground in Afghanistan -- New York Times
In Disclosing Secret Documents, WikiLeaks Seeks ‘Transparency’ -- New York Times
Strategic Plans Spawned Bitter End for a Lonely Outpost -- New York Times
Pakistan Aids Insurgency in Afghanistan, Reports Assert -- New York Times

The Afghanistan Protocol: Explosive Leaks Provide Image of War from Those Fighting It -- Spiegel Online
The Afghanistan Protocol: Task Force 373 : The Secret Hunters -- Der Spiegel
The Afghanistan Protocol: German Naivety : Growing Trouble in the North -- Der Spiegel
The Afghanistan Protocol: The Flaws of the Silent Killer: When Drones Fail -- Der Spiegel
The Afghanistan Protocol: Intelligence Agents Drowning in Data -- Der Spiegel

Exclusive: Massive 'War Log' Leak Wasn't Done Alone, Whistleblower Says -- ABC News
US documents leaked online give inside look at war -- Yahoo News/AP
Pakistan secretly helping Taliban: report -- Yahoo News/Reuters
US condemns massive leak of Afghan war files -- Yahoo News/AFP
WikiLeaks Drops 90,000 War Docs; Fingers Pakistan as Insurgent Ally -- The Danger Room
Thousands of 'Secret' Afghan War Files Released on Internet -- Voice of America
US Documents Leaked Online Give Inside Look at War -- ABC News
Leaked files lay bare war in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
Tens of thousands of alleged Afghan war documents go online -- CNN
Afghanistan War Logs: 90,000 classified documents revealed by Wikileaks -- The Telegraph
'Hidden US Afghan War Details' Revealed By Wikileaks As Thousands Of Top Secret Files Go Online -- BBC News
Wikileaks releases massive set of Afghan war files -- CNET
Papers: Leaks Show Unreported Afghan Deaths -- NPR/AP
Pakistan Aids Insurgency in Afghanistan, Reports Assert -- New York Times
The big leak -- Politico
Wikileaks takes new approach in latest release of documents -- Washington Post
Afghan war logs: inquiry launched into source of leaks -- The Telegraph

Afghan says it's 'shocked' by leaked U.S. documents -- CNN
W.H. condemns 'irresponsible' leaks, dismisses stories -- Politico
White House Responds to Disclosure -- New York Times
White House Decries WikiLeaks' Release -- Los Angeles Times
Government 'laments' Afghan war documents leak -- BBC
Pakistan denies Wikileaks reports it 'aided Taliban' -- BBC
Pakistani spy agency denounces US intel docs -- Washington Post/AP
Jones lashes out at Wikileaks for putting lives at risk with Afghanistan files -- The Hill
U.S. Denounces Publication of Classified Documents on War in Afghanistan -- Bloomberg
The War Logs: Reaction to Disclosure of Military Documents on Afghan War -- New York Times
Hamid Gul Responds to WikiLeaks Allegations -- Wall Street Journal

Afghan war logs: webchat with Guardian reporter David Leigh -- The Guardian
What the WikiLeaks Documents Really Reveal -- Leslie H. Gelb, Daily Beast
The New Republic: The Significance Of The Wikileaks -- Andrew J. Bacevich, NPR
WikiLeaks' Afghan Documents and Me -- Mother Jones
The Afghan war is too important to be side-tracked by wikileaks that tell us nothing new -- Con Coughlin, The Telegraph

Posted by Bookyards

So, let me paraphrase : In war people get killed. But only under George Bush. War sucks.

Protesting Obama's Crimes

A group of super important US actors and liberal intellectuals joined a list of nearly 2,000 people accusing President Barack Obama of allowing human rights violations and war crimes.

"Crimes are crimes, no matter who does them," the statement reads over pictures of Obama and his predecessor George W. Bush due to appear in the New York Review of Books... which is the most important book of our time.

The statement, published as a paid advertisement, accuses Obama, who was elected by these same people, of continuing Bush's controversial approach to human rights in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in domestic security. Meet the new boss same as the old boss stuff must finally be sinking in with these folks?

The Review of Books Statement takes aim especially at Obama's decision to authorize the killing of a radical Islamic cleric and US citizen Anwar al-Awlaki, who is accused of ties to Al-Qaeda in Yemen.

"In some respects this is worse than Bush," the statement says. "First, because Obama has claimed the right to assassinate American citizens whom he suspects of 'terrorism,' merely on the grounds of his own suspicion or that of the CIA, something Bush never claimed publicly." Just to be clear, these important people now believe Obama is WORSE than Bush? Yeah, I had to rub my eyes a couple times on that one too.

Among the signatories are cunning linguist Noam Chomsky, "L.A. Confidential" actor James Cromwell, actor Mark Ruffalo and prominent Bush-era anti-war protest icon and professional whiner Cindy Sheehan. At last count, were 1,804 signatures.

They also lambast Obama for having refused "to prosecute any members of the Bush regime who are responsible for war crimes, including some who admitted to waterboarding and other forms of torture, thereby making their actions acceptable for him." Well, if he did that, he'd have to prosecute the entire Congress too... which Obama was a member of. That'd be just silly!

To be fair, Norm Chomsky thought Jimmy Carter was a war criminal. Now while I agree that putting a hit on American citizens creates a slippery slope... a dangerous slippery slope (And more than just bi-polar since we're reading Miranda Rights to non-citizens with shoe bombs on airplanes, while we're sending Terminator drones to kill actual citizens in Yemen?).

But to just blindly follow Chomsky, Sheehan, and the 'Important Actors' based on their allegations that the procecution of the War on Terror and the hit on (potential traitor) Anwar al-Awlaki was a groundless and violent action for the sake of violence. We are not meant to question their logic, statement, or motives at all. These same people who would have us believe that the White House and the CIA are not worth our faith are asking us to place our faith in them?

And when they simply speculate and accuse with no foundation or proof then that is a tough sell.

Addicted to the War on Drugs

After 40 years, the United States' war on drugs has cost $1 trillion and hundreds of thousands of lives. Yet, drug use is rampant and violence even more brutal and widespread.

U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske is admitting defeat.

"In the grand scheme, it has not been successful," Kerlikowske told The Associated Press. "Forty years later, the concern about drugs and drug problems is, if anything, magnified, intensified."

Mr. Obama promised to "reduce drug use and the great damage it causes" with a new national policy that he said treats drug use more as a public health issue and focuses on prevention and treatment.

But he's still increasing spending on interdiction and law enforcement to record levels both in dollars and in percentage terms; this year, they account for $10 billion of his $15.5 billion drug-control budget. Creatin' jobs in the DEA?

Kerlikowske, who coordinates all federal anti-drug policies, says it will take time for the spending to match the rhetoric.

"Nothing happens overnight," he said. "We've never worked the drug problem holistically. We'll arrest the drug dealer, but we leave the addiction." So we're addicted to the War on Drugs?

Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron says the only sure thing taxpayers get for more spending on police and soldiers is more homicides.

"Current policy is not having an effect of reducing drug use," Miron said, "but it's costing the public a fortune."

The Office of National Drug Control Policy says about 330 tons of cocaine, 20 tons of heroin and 110 tons of methamphetamine are sold in the United States every year — almost all of it brought in across the borders. Even more marijuana is sold, but it's hard to know how much of that is grown domestically, including vast fields run by Mexican drug cartels in U.S. national parks.

The dealers who are caught have overwhelmed justice systems in the United States and elsewhere. U.S. prosecutors declined to file charges in 7,482 drug cases last year, most because they simply didn't have the time. That's about one out of every four drug cases.

The $320 billion annual global drug industry now accounts for 1 percent of all commerce on the planet.

A full 10 percent of Mexico's economy is built on drug proceeds — $25 billion smuggled in from the United States every year, of which 25 cents of each $100 smuggled is seized at the border. Thus there's no incentive for the kind of financial reform that could tame the cartels.

"For every drug dealer you put in jail or kill, there's a line up to replace him because the money is just so good," says Walter McCay, who heads the non-profit Center for Professional Police Certification in Mexico City.

McCay is one of the 13,000 members of Medford, Mass.-based Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a group of cops, judges, prosecutors, prison wardens and others who want to legalize and regulate all drugs.

A decade ago, no politician who wanted to keep his job would breathe a word about legalization, but a consensus is growing across the country that at least marijuana will someday be regulated and sold like tobacco and alcohol.

California voters decide in November whether to legalize marijuana, and South Dakota will vote this fall on whether to allow medical uses of marijuana, already permitted in California and 13 other states. The Obama administration says it won't target marijuana dispensaries if they comply with state laws.

The full story is here

He Mad

Strange Oscars- night: Good war movie wins over Anti-American/Anti-humanity film, Christian film gets best actress. You'd think George Bush would somehow be blamed?

I won the office pool by betting heavy on the Hurt.

The Week In Review/Sunday Comics

Tiger Woods changed his name to Cheetah.
Mr. Obama had a 'jobs summit.' He created 30,000 more positions in Afghanistan. The plan is to escalate the war, so that we can bail out. Sounds very Nixon-eeze to me?
So what's a Taliban to do?

And Blasphemes started keeping track of the Advent, and researched all the stories, fan fiction, and the general fun of the Nativity tale.

Hope you had a great week, we'll see you again tomorrow.

Military Fills the Ranks

For the first time in more than 35 years, the U.S. military has met all of its annual recruiting goals, as hundreds of thousands of young people have enlisted despite the near-certainty that they will go to war.

The Pentagon, which made the announcement Tuesday, said the economic downturn and rising joblessness, as well as bonuses and other factors, had led more qualified youths to enlist.

The military has not seen such across-the-board successes since the all-volunteer force was established in 1973, after Congress ended the draft following the Vietnam War. In recent years, the military has often fallen short of some of its recruiting targets. The Army, in particular, has struggled to fill its ranks, admitting more high school dropouts, overweight youths and even felons.

BUT during the current budget year, which ended Sept. 30, recruiters met their targets in both numbers and quality for all components of active-duty and reserve forces.

"We delivered beyond anything the framers of the all-volunteer force would have anticipated," Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, said at a Pentagon news conference. (MORE: Washington Post)

Now, here's a question... what will we do with all these good folks who are ready to serve?

No one had the heart to pull her away

If this doesn't make you tear up, you have no soul.

A family photo that shows a little girl beside her father and his fellow soldiers in uniform as they prepare to go to war has resonated well beyond the tight knit Bennethum clan.

Four-year-old Paige Bennethum really, really didn't want her daddy to go to Iraq.
So much so, that when Army Reservist Staff Sgt. Brett Bennethum lined up in formation at his deployment this July, she couldn't let go.

No one had the heart to pull her away.

The commanding officer allowed Paige to say goodbye as her dad prepared to ship off from Fort Dix.

Paige's mom Abby captured the moment with her camera and her aunt passed the image along to a Berks County, Pa. newspaper.

"I’ve had strangers looking me up online, sending me messages that they are touched by it ... offering a lot of support," Abby Bennethum told NBCPhiladelphia.

The picture took on a life of its own online this week. Abby says that suddenly, people were knocking on her door. "Literally overnight, there's all these people that just want to do anything they can," she says. Though she says her husband hasn't seen any stories about his family yet, he expects to.

For her part, Paige still remembers how she felt that day in July. Looking at the picture of herself – her dad now overseas – Paige remembers, "I didn't want to let go of him."

She calls the work he does transporting supplies across the Iraqi border, "just nice."

But that doesn't change her feelings.

"I just miss my dad right now," she says.

Sgt. Bennethum, 30, is expected home next July. Until then, Paige plans to help her mom take care of her little sister and a new baby that's on the way.

(thanks Vince Lattanzio for the source for this story - whom I completely cutn'pasted)

Vietnam - er - Afghanistan

The situation in Vietnam - er - Afghanistan is growing worse, and without more boots on the ground the U.S. risks failure in a war it's been waging since September -1959- er, sorry, keeps slipping - 1959 - No, 2001, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Vietnam - dang - Afghanistan says in a confidential report.

"Resources will not win this war, but under-resourcing could lose it," Gen. William C. Westmoreland - sorry - Gen. Stanley McChrystal wrote in a five-page Commander's Summary. His 66-page report, sent to Defense Secretary Robert McNamera - no, Robert Gates - on Aug. 30, is now under review by President Lyndon B. Joh- Barack Obama.

Details of Westmoreland - d'oh, again! - McChrystal's assessment were first reported late Sunday by The Washington Post. The newspaper posted a link to the report on its - newspaper - no -Web site, with some operational details withheld at the request of the Pentagon.

"Although considerable effort and sacrifice have resulted in some progress, many indicators suggest the overall effort is deteriorating," McChrystal said of the war's progress.

While asserting that more troops are needed, McChrystal also pointed out an "urgent need" to significantly revise strategy. The U.S. needs to interact better with the -Vietnamese - agh! - Afghan people, McChrystal said, and better organize its efforts with NATO allies.

"We run the risk of strategic defeat by pursuing tactical wins that cause civilian casualties or unnecessary collateral damage. The insurgents cannot defeat us militarily; but we can defeat ourselves."

Look gang, I think we need to reassess what our goals really are in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our treasury has been depleted to win a war that cannot be won. Darius the Great, Alexander the Great, Chandragupta Maura, Ashoka, Kanishka, Menander, Atilla the Hun, Genghis Khan, Timur, Mahmud Ghazni, Mahmud Ghori, Babur, Hmanyun, Akbar, Nadir Shah... the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and now the United States. What an interesting fraternity. And even those that had early victories - they found it was impossible to keep their possessions very long.

Let's be clear, I very much support our troops and our troop's families. I think we all need to look long and hard as to why we're being asked to escalate the war in Afghanistan.

Even Genghis figured that out. And he wasn't there to win "hearts and minds."

This is what Civil War in America means

This is what Civil War in America means

Recently many individuals and groups have started talking about another civil war in America. These people are not just from one ideology nor are they from obscure fringe groups. State Governors and elected representatives are some of the people calling for open warfare in America. As a soldier I was sent to combat zones in Iraq and Kosovo where open civil war was happening. I am writing this because American civilians have no idea what open warfare is. Before someone makes the first move and starts something that cannot be undone I think we all need to know what life would be like in our hometowns in the event of war.

To start with civil war would not be between two well defined groups. There would be no less than three groups in any one area and dozens in some areas. The federal government would be the third party in any armed conflict. At the beginning of civil war there would be martial law. The federal government would actively kill and imprison all persons not a member of the armed forces that participated in combat. Because of the degradation of our constitution the federal government no longer has any legal restraints. The President, whomever that person may be, has dictatorial powers because of such things as directive 51.

For those who think they would join any side in a civil war know this: When your enemies find out who you are everyone you know and care about would be in danger. All non combatants would also be in danger of death. Your enemies will kill everyone connected to you. This means your mom working at the local grocery store, your sons and daughters at grade school, or your grandparents at their home would all be targets for assassination. Before picking up arms to solve our problems remember that you will be putting all the people you know at risk of death.

Do not think that civil war would be limited to rifles. The only thing America actually produces is weapons of mass destruction. This includes mortars, grenades, rockets, land mines and the deadliest chemical weapons on the planet. We also have the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. This means when your mom goes to work your enemies will bomb and mortar the building she works in. Your child’s school will have the same fate. Know that if you survive any length of time you will see everyone you know die if there is civil war.

Some State Governors think they can simply secede from the union without bloodshed. This is a ridiculous delusion. If a state legislation does this there would be instant civil war. On every military installation across the globe American soldiers would kill each other overnight. Post commanders would have to detainee and execute all those not aligned with their own ideology. This means if your post commander is a republican all those soldiers known to be liberals would be executed. Liberal commanders would do the same to republicans.

The next thing to think about is the duration of the conflict. Simply put you will never see the end of it. If you live out your normal life and die of old age you will still not see the end of civil war. In the event of civil war America would never recover. There would never again be a union of 50 states. Instead our descendants would have several different nations just like Western Europe does.

Let us not forget our large stockpile of nuclear weapons. How long would it take for a conservative faction to nuke San Francisco or Seattle? How long would it take a mentally disturbed liberal to nuke parts of Texas and Alaska? Scarred and war weary soldiers will use whatever weapons they have at hand. So if you still want civil war in America remember that we have several hundred nuclear weapons to play with.

My whole point of this is that if you want to fix America then start restoring the things that made America in the first place. These things are the Constitution and the rule of law. There is no such thing as a unified people. We are all different from one another. The only thing that makes any nation is a constitution. The only civil society is the one that recognizes universal human rights. The only free nation is the one that obeys the rule of law. If you really want to fix America restore these things. This means voting.

The Foxholeatheist

Dear Foxholeatheist,

Let me start by thanking you for your service. Also, thank you for sending your blogpost to Blasphemes. Your descriptions of a second civil war in America are chilling and I'm sure with your experience, are also spot on accurate.

To add to your point, I would say that in the final days of the actual Civil War in America, just before his surrender at Appomattox, General Lee resisted please by his officers to reject surrender and allow small units to melt away into the mountains, changing the war from regiments to guerrilla war. Luckily for all Americans, Lee's gentleman's honor would not allow it. If not for this one decision by Lee, I am convinced that America would still be fighting the Civil War - in a Northern Ireland sort of fashion.

I agree with you, that voting and restoring the rule of law and the Constitution are the ways to start fixing America. Uphold, protect, defend the Constitution. But to do this, we should also keep all our options on the table.

My Favorite Shrill Is Back!

My favorite shrill, anti-war poster, used napkin, Cindy Sheehan is back and trying to mess up President Barack Obama's vacation.

You all know that Sheehan was used to be the poster shrill by both the left and right, and she put up a tent near George Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

On Thursday, she and a band of anti-war protesters turned up outside the media center used by journalists covering Obama's vacation on the well-heeled east coast resort island of Martha's Vineyard. Neat.

"The reason I am here is because ... even though the facade has changed in Washington DC, the policies are still the same," Sheehan told a handful of journalists, against a backdrop of her "Camp Casey" banner.

She told US peace activists to wake up and protest Obama's escalation of the war in Afghanistan, and complained that despite the president's anti-war stance, US troops remained in Iraq.

"We have to realize, it is not the president who is power, it is not the party that is in power it is the system that stays the same, no matter who is in charge."

"We are here to make the wars unpopular again," she said.

Wow. Looks like the left created a monster. They tossed her to the side after Obama won, but look at that, she's come back and is still on message.

Well, I'll at least admit that she's still holding to her convictions.
Which is more than I can say for any elected Democrat.

Anti Violence Rally Shooting

Two Shot at Anti-Violence Rally In Midwest City, Oklahoma

One person was shot in the torso and another was shot multiple times during the event at Regional Park.

More than 1,200 people gathered for the event, geared toward encouraging teens to turn away from violence.

"All of a sudden, guys started tripping, a guy started shooting and kids got ran over," said Angel Easley.

"I thought it was a balloon pop, and I seen a dude with a red bandana and a gray hoodie, and I just ran," said Toriano Easley Jr.

Alfred Frazier, 17, and Sam ZayZay, 22, were arrested initially, police said. ZayZay has since been released pending further investigation. Frazier is accused of shooting with intent to kill.

Investigators are talking to two other people possibly involved in the shooting. The names of the shooting victims have not been released. Police have not indicated whether the shooting is gang-related.

Guns don't kill people. Morons do.

Anti Violence Rallies Don't Kill People- Whoa, not so fast.