Foreign Policy Of Invasion Should Include An Exit Strategy

September 2, 2009 by Leave a comment

A recent column by conservative columnist George Will has ignited a firestorm among the political right wing in our country.  In his column, Will has proposed a substantial withdrawal of ground forces from Afghanistan.

There is mounting pressure from the left wing “peace” movement to withdraw as well.  While protester Cincy Sheehan got lots of press coverage during the Bush administration, there does not seem to be the same level of media interest in her now that she is protesting a Democratic President.  I wonder if the media will call for a face to face meeting between President Obama and Ms. Sheehan?  I won’t hold my breath for that.

I supported the use of military force to go after the Taliban in Afghanistan.  However, I believe George Will’s column brings up a good point: what is our exit strategy?

We should always consider the consequences of military action before we commit troops.  At what point will we be withdrawing from Afghanistan?

I am not suggesting we “cut and run”.  I am not suggesting that we “admit defeat”.  What I am questioning is how we define success.  As Reason Magazine is pointing out, the current regime in Kabul (U.S. supported by the way) now has legalized marital rape.  Women are not allowed to leave their homes unless male relatives allow them to.  Is this the kind of government we want to support with our military?

We have now had our military in Afghanistan for eight years.  At what point will we be able to wrap this thing up, and bring our troops home?  Or are we to stay for 100 years as a former Presidential candidate suggested we do in Iraq?

We need to figure out how to get out of this situation.  The status quo should not be acceptable.  President Obama is ordering an additional 21,000 troops to Afghanistan.  We still have troops in Iraq as well.  Our military men and women are being asked to risk their lives, and we do not seem to have an exit strategy.

It is time for the Democrats and the Republicans to quit calling it “Bush’s War” or “Obama’s War”.  It is time for us to start putting America first, and work together for a solution.

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Filed under President Obama, Republican Party, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Torture A Hallmark of Criminals; Not Legitimate Government

May 19, 2009 by 1 Comment

Abu Gharaib Abuses Helped The Insurgency Grow

The debate on torture continues.  In my local morning newspaper, I read a letter to the editor supporting torture.  The author of the letter concluded that the “ends justify the means”.  This idea seems inconsistent with the values system I was taught in school.  The Constitution, and rule of law used to be of importance.  So was the idea of individual rights.  Geneva Convention treaties prohibiting torture were generally not considered controversial either.

The author of the letter in the paper is from nearby Yakima.  I have met him before, and believe I would agree with him on many other issues.  In coming months, there is a decent possibility we will both be attending some of the same events.  If given the opportunity, I would like to get to know him better.

Many folks involved in politics are trying to box every issue into a “left” one, or a “right” one.  I am wondering if the author of the letter to the editor has held the belief that torture is acceptable his entire life, or just since George W. Bush decided to authorize the practice.  It is my understanding that the gentleman in question is a member of the law enforcement community.  Would he also engage in torture to catch local criminals?

While I disagree with torture as policy, I also am opposed to Nancy Pelosi trying to prosecute former Bush Administration officials for making decisions in the stress filled environment following 9-11.  Some of the policies enacted have been changed by the new administration, and trying to scapegoat officials no longer in office does not accomplish anything productive in my opinion.

The lunatic left fringe extremists are trying to get former Bush lawyers disbarred as well as criminally prosecuted.  If you are unfamiliar with this, see the New York Times article: Advocacy Groups Seek Disbarment of Ex-Bush Administration Lawyers.  

The danger is that future administrations will find it more difficult to get folks to work for them.  This includes the White House, as well as military and intelligence agency jobs.  Who would want to work in an environment where their actions will called into question five years later?  Even if they don’t get criminally prosecuted, the left wing lawyers will try to bankrupt them with legal fees.  Pelosi and pals need to back off, and let the people decide on these matters at the ballot box.

Meanwhile, kidnappings and torture are becoming a problem within the United States.  

See CNN’s article: Torture A Hallmark Of Phoenix Drug Kidnappings

The article addresses how kidnap victims are tortured to try and get them to give up money.  In addition, torture is used as a way to try and get friends and family to pay ransom money.

Under laws and policies enacted after 9-11, the government could theoretically kidnap anyone, at anytime, and conduct torture like this.  It would be legal, and the individual captured would not have access to courts or a lawyer, and the government could legally deny even having the person in custody.

This is why the right to be indicted by a grand jury is an important protection for citizens.  We don’t need or want secret police, Gestapo units, or other tools of tyrant regimes.  We want freedom and liberty.

We didn’t torture Nichols or McVeigh after the Oklahoma City bombing to find out if there were more conspirators.  I don’t buy the argument that since 9-11 there is a “new paradigm” that means we should engage in torture despite our traditions of protecting individual rights.

If you don’t feel safe living in a society that does not torture its captives, feel free to move to a country with a regime that does.  Please stop asking me to accept the practice of torture,  just because that is what the “terrorists” do to their captives.

Filed under Constitutional Issues, Freedom Issues, Traditional Values, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , ,

The Debate On Torture

May 14, 2009 by 2 Comments

To be quite frank about this, I am not sure why Americans are debating whether or not we should be torturing our prisoners.  Throughout history, atrocities have been committed during times of war and conflict, but as Americans we have always held ourselves to a higher standard.  Or at least that is what I would like to believe.

The impulse to exact revenge is certainly understandable, but civilized societies do not rely on this principle to administer justice.  In ancient times, the “eye for eye” code resulted in one tribe or clan taking out revenge on another.  They in turn would attack their tormentors in kind.  The never ending cycle of violence that results from this destroys order and civilization for all parties concerned.

We should always be vigilant in defending our country, but mistreatment of individual prisoners should never be condoned.  As a nation, we have signed on to Geneva Convention treaties that layout standards for how we should treat prisoners of war.  Attempting to circumvent these standards by calling prisoners “detainees” is detestable.  It is a bad policy, and should be changed.

To argue about the fine points of what qualifies as torture is equally as bad.  The previous administration said that water boarding is not torture.  The current administration seems to want to change the policy and not have water boarding of prisoners any longer.  I agree with the suggested change.  We should change our policy to be more humane, and move on.

Unfortunately, Democrats in Congress want to use this as an opportunity for grandstanding.  For some unknown reason, some Republicans are obliging.  If it is not bad enough that some Republicans are actually defending acts of torture, Democrats are being caught in lies saying they did not know it was taking place! (Google Nancy Pelosi and water boarding for news stories on this).

The politicians are trying to turn this into a left-wing vs. right-wing issue.  For most Americans, it is an issue of right and wrong.  It is not a partisan issue.  Trying to bash Bush does not help us move forward.  Those that engaged in these policies in the past were misguided.  Hearings and possible prosecutions will not be the answer.

We need to RESPECT all people.  Even the brown-skinned people who practice a different religion.  If we accept torture of anyone, it won’t be long before the government practices it on everyone.

The U.S. military has certain schools and training that service men and women go through where they might experience “water boarding”.  One justification for doing it to prisoners has been that we do it to our own military members.  This is wrong-headed.  The conditions of training do not mirror those of the real-world application of the practice.  Recently disclosed documents show water boarding being done 80 times and more to the same prisoners.  It is my personal belief that there is a different motivation going on than just the simple extraction of “actionable intelligence”.  When you keep doing it that many times, it is about something else.  Our military service members are not routinely subjected to this technique that many times, and over an indefinite period.

Recently, I have been engaged in some debate on another blog about this issue.  While I disagree with some of the comments from others, I respect their patriotism and determination to see our country protected.  Our debate is about the techniques used, and in a larger context, what our  overall values system should be.

The following video gives just a little incite into what water boarding is.  If you think it is alright for us to do this in government prisons outside of the U.S.; then why not at the police station in your local town?  Just something to think about.

Filed under Constitutional Issues, Freedom Issues, President Obama, Republican Party, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Social Security and Medicare To Be Insolvent Years Sooner Than Previously Expected

May 13, 2009 by Leave a comment

Social Security and Medicare, already on a track for insolvency, will be going broke years sooner than earlier expected.  The bad economy is kicking the ailing programs while they are going down.

In just five years, Social Security will start to pay out more than it takes in.  The result will be even more government borrowing to make up the difference.  By 2037, it will be completely bankrupted, unless something is done to change the program.  Think this is bad?  Medicare is in even worse shape!

Medicare started paying out more than it takes in during 2008.  The fund will be completely depleted in eight years.

Of course, the “trust funds” to pay for these programs don’t have money in them.  Congress already spent the money!  Instead, a paper bond, or I.O.U. is in a file folder for the programs in a government office in Washington D.C.  And no, I am not joking.  This is how Congress has been “funding” these programs for several years.

Past attempts to reform the programs have been met with resistance by the very politicians in position to do something about it. 

During my lifetime, the Social Security taxes on payroll have been doubled.  This happened in the 1980′s.  The theory was that the baby boomers’ retirements would strain the system.  By increasing the taxes, a sufficient surplus would be built up to pay for the added expenses that we are now starting to see.

Of course, the baby boomers, living up to the title of the “Me” generation, spent it all on themselves.  Not content with that, they voted for even more spending, which saddles future, unborn, generations of Americans with debt.

When George W. Bush brought up the topic of Social Security reform, he was attacked from all sides, and no proposed fixes were even voted on by Congress.

Now that the Democrats have control of both the White House and Congress, they are talking about creating a national health care system.  This would basically put everyone in the country on Medicare!  With the government run health care program we have now going broke, why do we want to have them run the entire system?

Here is the what we need to do: we need our political leaders to make hard, unpopular choices, to fix the problem.  It is worth fixing these problems for the good of the country.  Our leaders need to be brave, willing to face the AARP, and everyone else that will be crying like babies.  Some may be voted out of office by the “Me” generation.  That is a risk they should be willing to take.  Some fights are worth falling on your sword.  The future economic condition of our country should be something worth risking a political career for.

Do the leaders of either party have it in them to do the right thing?

Reference:

Washington Post: Alarm Sounded On Social Security

AP article: Social Security and Medicare Finances Worsen

Filed under Economy, President Obama, Republican Party, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

White House Reporters Stand For Obama, Not Bush

May 4, 2009 by 5 Comments

In this video, White House reporters stand when Obama enters the room, but not for George W. Bush.  Do I need to say anything else?

Filed under President Obama Tagged with , , , ,

State Superintendent Of Public Instruction Randy Dorn Wants More Federal Control Of Classrooms

February 17, 2009 by 1 Comment

Previously, I have stated on this blog that I am a supporter of local schools.  I still am.

Let me say it again: I am a supporter of LOCAL schools.

During the last eight years we have heard the teachers’ union cry foul over the No Child Left Behind Act.  “Unfunded mandates!” they cried.  What we did not hear was that the only way the Federal government could mandate anything was if they took the Federal money.  You see, with money comes conditions.  This is the way that the Federal government inserts itself into things that it has no Constitutional business being involved in.

As a supporter of local schools, I have this crazy idea that states and local school boards should control the education system.  That way, if there is a problem, a local person can address it with their local school board.  Even to the point of running for the local school board, if they feel so inclined.  Why would we want a pencil pusher in a government cube farm in Washington D.C. to control what happens in our local schools?  They are not living in our community, have never visited here, and do not understand the local conditions of our schools.

This is why I am frustrated at some remarks made by Randy Dorn, the new state superintendent of public instruction.  Reportedly, on February 8, he was meeting with local school superintendents and school board members.  At this meeting, he urged school leaders to lobby Congress to include education funding in the stimulus bill.

After these remarks, Dorn was told that some school board members were concerned that Dorn might shut them out of discussions with his office because they didn’t think it was appropriate for them to get involved in politics outside of their districts.  Some felt he was abrupt and rude to a board member during a question and answer session.

The next day, Dorn issued a public apology for his treatment of the board member.

This is not a partisan issue.  When it comes to public schools, it does not matter to me what party is dominating in Washington D.C.  I am opposed to the Federal government taking over our schools.  This same union that did not like No Child Left Behind is now pushing for more Federal money (and mandates) from the Federal government.  Have we not learned our lessons with the expansion of the Education Department during the Bush years?

Even if you are naive enough to think that having education funding in the stimulus bill will make everything good in the classroom, the loss of control over the classroom will be permanent, lasting long after this President and members of this Congress have left office.

Randy Dorn was the union endorsed candidate for the job of State Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The union is on record opposing Federal meddling in the classroom under President Bush.  How does the non-partisan union feel about their endorsed candidate calling for Federal meddling in the classroom under President Obama?

For reference, see the Seattle Times article: State school chief apologizes after some find remarks offensive

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Transition Complete!

January 25, 2009 by Leave a comment

Bush -> Obama

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The Bush-Obama Congress Approved Plan To Share The Pain

January 20, 2009 by 2 Comments

Here is a synopsis of the Bush-Obama  Share The Pain Plan.  A willing Congress supports the plan for both Presidents.  From Mish’s Global Economic  Trend Analysis.  See the complete article here.

Sharing The Pain Plan

Ordinary Taxpayers 100%
Banks 0%
Congress 0%
State Legislatures 0%
Bernanke 0%
Fed Governors 0%
Fannie Mae Bondholders 0%
Freddie Mac Bondholders 0%
FDIC executives 0%
SEC 0%

Filed under Economy Tagged with , , ,

Bush And The Joker

January 8, 2009 by Leave a comment

And now, just for fun, something I found while websurfing today.  (It’s what I do all day!) :)

Filed under Uncategorized Tagged with , , ,

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