Another Notch In The ISIS Belt

Just when you think ISIS atrocities can't get any worse, they do.  The burning alive of the captured Jordanian pilot is perversion off the scale.

This is a tough way to get the middle eastern countries to pick up arms and finally, hopefully, put boots on the ground against these perverts.  It's time for them to understand it's no longer one branch of Islam against another but rather Islam itself against the worst perversion imaginable of their religion. After all, the Kurds have.  They can sort out their own politics later.  Its time to destroy this consummate evil.

It's time to quit worrying about Muslims being offended by our alleged lumping of them all together.  I don't believe the majority of moderate Muslims believe that we do but those who do must understand it's because they haven't been willing to call out those who foment terror within their own ranks. A few have but no where nearly enough to be heard with any impact.

We too need a strategy.  We won't lead because our commander-in-chief doesn't have the capability nor the will.  Others will have to take up the mantle of leadership but we must understand those smaller countries with less sophisticated and far fewer military capabilities need more from us than unkept promises. When we promise them arms and munitions they deserve more than meals ready to eat - if that.

If our strategy is to supply support and let those in the neighborhood fight it out then we owe them that support without ridiculous delays or outright neglect.  If we don't it will surely hit our shores sooner rather than later.  Remember ISIS has other western prisoners including an American woman.  Will it take her suffering the same fate as the young pilot to get our government to honor it's promises?  I desperately hope not.

Remember too it is seeping through the cracks in Europe and right next door in Canada. There is no chance that our President is going to change his world view just as he won't recognize the short comings of his domestic view.  We can however support those who are trying to fight the fight without the strong hand of America guiding them by listening to what Prime Minister Netanyahu has to say about the consequences of a nuclear Iran because as surely I write this the fight will filter down to being between Iran and ISIS, winner take all.

The meek shall not inherit the earth - or what's left of it.

Too Much, Too Soon And Matters Of More Consequence

Does anyone else think it is way too soon to pay attention to front runners in the Republican race?

Just a couple of days ago it was Romney.  He's gone.  Then it was Bush for about 32 seconds.  He's faded.  Now it's Paul Walker who until he gave a speech even people in Iowa didn't know who he is.

The men, and yes they are men rather than women, I'm interested in are at the I won't count it out stage and we're hearing little if anything from them.  That's just fine with me for a couple of reasons.

One it cuts down on the amount of time the Democrats will have to manufacture dirt and two, maybe the electorate won't be tired of them by the time the real race comes around.  Actually I hope there are some outliers in the Democrat Party too.  Any face other than Hillary and Biden would be a fresh face and one can hope with it would come with some fresh ideas too.  I have trouble believing every Democrat is wedded to Hillary though the current polls suggest this is in fact the case.

Back to the Republicans.  I don't understand why those who create disruption within party ranks don't understand the harm it does to their over all goals.  Or don't they really have any?  They are everything in themselves that they accuse the Democrats of being.  Obstinate to a fault.

Oh well, I'm not going to be following the rise and fall of potential candidates just yet.  I'm more interested in  what's going on in the world and how we're going to handle the turmoil. That's where the real concern is and unlike many of the candidates, it's not going to fade.

So, to the media, go ahead and continue to play enabler to the childish game of electoral politics.  The rest of us will find enough sources to keep informed about the real world - the one where the only game being played is which terrorist faction can make the U.S. look its worst.

What Makes A Civilized Society?

I think it's a matter of how much the people who make up a society control their blood lust.  Let's face it, there is an inherent streak of cruelty in all of us.

Every Sunday there is a column in our local paper depicting Idaho history.  Today it was about a military massacre of Indians.  Nothing unique to Idaho to be sure, nor to the military for that matter.  Our history is chock full of inhuman cruelty imposed on those considered to be inferior or a potential threat.  Both the Indians and the whites indulged themselves against one another.  Later the whites against the blacks.

I thought about how Japanese Prime Minister Abe was so distraught over the beheading of two of his countrymen.  Then I reflected on the incredible cruelty shown to American prisoners of war during WWII. And the Germans against the Jews and so many middle eastern countries against their own people - floggings and stonings.

Even in a less violent mode all you have to do is look at how candidates for high office in our own country behave.  They may not assassinate with bullets but they do with words.

It's in all of us.  What defines us as civilized is how well we control these impulses.  Western nations, for the most part, are way ahead of the curve. Then I think about the mean spirited criticisms of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle where he was accused of being anti-Muslim and going on killing sprees as if he did what he did because he wanted to and enjoyed it.  I prefer to think we've evolved enough that the first time any soldier pulls the trigger to take a life is the most difficult shot he'll ever take.

What makes a Chris Kyle special to me is the added burden he faced in leaving the killing fields, placing the lid firmly back on his personal Pandora's Box and readjusting to civilized life.  It's a test I'd not like to face. It takes an especially, strong and moral person to do so successfully. We need to be thankful we have a military full of such men and women.

We must also accept that the Islamic terrorists have no such sensibilities.  For many it's all they've ever known. The strength of terror.  They practice it with abandon.  The only evolvement they've made is to increase it's effectiveness against those of us who find it appalling.

Is it equal blood lust to want to wipe them from the face of the earth? I don't think so. It's more about survival of what we've fought so hard to attain versus what they want to attain.  Without us they have no need for conscience or qualms, they win.

We fight to prevent them from winning and to prevent ourselves from regressing.  We could start by having  our own politicians quit sniping at each other and help wage the war necessary against the real enemies of our society.  Without an effort from all of us who consider ourselves civilized, that slippery slope is all downhill.

Mitt Was There - Where Were We?

Where were we when we needed him?  Teeing off about his religion, his wealth, his perfect appearance.  Listening while Candy Crowley contradicted him and our President mocked him.  It has been our loss and we best learn a lesson from it.

I concede he was a poor campaigner.  He wanted to win so badly he took bad advice and was overly cautious when he should have just been himself and not felt apologizing for who he is was necessary.  That's all in the past now.  It's our loss.

I do believe he would have been a far better President than the one we have.  Heck, I would be a better President than the one we have but I don't mean to damn Romney with faint praise.  He didn't achieve all that he has by being no more than a community organizer with a big ego.  He earned it.  He is worldly, economically savvy and understands the world of which we are a part whether we want to be or not.  He would have served us well.  Now he has had the good graces to read polls accurately and has bowed to, hopefully, a younger generation.  If we've traded him for Jeb or Hillary than I think we've learned nothing.

Is there one of the remaining candidates, at this point, that have the combination to offer that Romney had?  I don't think so.  Except for Lindsey Graham, they are all weak in foreign policy.  The governors have experience managing diverse organizations but only a few have knowledge of Washington's ways.  Few if any have hands on business experience.  Few have actual military experience and I dare say first term senators are still feeling their way and at this point are getting attention with mostly flamboyant rhetoric rather than actual ideas.

It's sad, really, that we turned our backs on a man who truly loves our country. The irony of it is he was there when we sorely needed him.  But we couldn't be bothered when he needed us.

Lesson learned? I doubt it.  

Retreads And Underqualified Newbies

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Sarah Palin is seriously interested in joining the 2016 campaign. All we need is one more retread.  An irritating one at that.

Unfortunately many of the better qualified haven't made the front pages yet.  Or maybe they're smart.  The others will be suffering from voter burn out by the time the campaign gets serious.

I'd like to see some of them go now for various reasons.  Mitt Romney.  He may have been a better President than Obama has been but there are many now running that would be better than him.  He's old news and a lousy campaigner and still carries the same baggage.

Jeb Bush.  Other than being another Bush...  Well, maybe that's enough.  Ben Carson.  No political experience, no business experience.  He'd be a great Health and Human Services Secretary.

Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio.  We tried a first term senator and look what we've got.  Maybe they have good ideas but not enough experience nor domestic and foreign policy acumen.

I won't go through the entire list nor state what are strictly personal opinions as to reasons, but I hope those younger governors will not be scared off by the big money needed.  Naively I hope ideas will win out and that they'll actually articulate them.

One last thought on the whole process is about the money involved.  These elections are now much like professional sports.  It's all about the money.  It's obscene that we're talking in billions when people's work weeks are being cut from 40 to 30 hours, they can't get full time employment and what wages they get are stagnant.  The economy is still sluggish and likely to remain weighed down by the world economy and a steadfastly obstinate President.

Remember growing up and you wanted something a bit pricey and were admonished by your parents who said, "Money doesn't grow on trees"?  That's true. The reason why is it's used like fertilizer by special interests and those who do their bidding.

I guess if you want a living wage and unlimited hours become a campaign worker. But please, pick a good candidate.