Why, Brian?

Let's see, what do the headlines bring this morning?  Bruce Jenner has now chosen his new name - Belinda.  Rosie O'Donnell is divorcing her second wife and leaving The View.  Brian Williams lied about...  What?

So do I think he should go?  Yes.  There is no more sacred trust than in truth in the media.  Since our government makes a habit of lying to us who else do we have to sort it out?

Okay, we know that except for FOX the media is the President's lap dog even though it's traditional for administrations to hate the press.  Talk about hypocrisy!

We know there is no more news, merely sound bites telling us little if anything.  Couldn't we at least expect those sound bites be based on fact? None of the network news anchors really appeal to me though I did watch Brian Williams for years.  I moved away from NBC because of their ethical problems that aren't anything new.  David Muir over at ABC is too frenetic for me.  It's as if he's in turbo mode to get in even more sound bites.  Scott Pelley, who I watch most often these days, is so slow and measured I have trouble staying awake.  The substance is the same no matter.  Lacking.  It's why I read a lot.

I never would have expected a man like Brian Williams to feel the need to aggrandize himself.  Hillary dodging bullets.  Yes.  She has made a career of trying to make us think she is something she isn't.  But Brian Willliams?  He had it all!

I don't think anything can remove the stain of doubt that has now been created.  He should do the honorable thing and resign.  But will he?  If he does there might still be a smidgen of integrity left.  If he doesn't and holds out for a huge settlement, there isn't.  It just would show he wants to get as much as he can before being fired or forced out.

A bit of research shows his net worth to be between 30 and 40 million dollars.  With some prudent budgeting he should be able to ease into retirement without much pain.  Maybe he could pick up a few extra bucks by giving his daughter acting lessons.  He lies well and she could use some help after her performance in Peter Pan.

Snarkyness aside, he really should go.  If NBC keeps him it just reinforces their already questionable reputation and it should reinforce to the news watching public that what comes out of an anchors mouth isn't necessarily the truth any more than what you read on the Internet.

 Why couldn't it have been news about some great altruistic act rather than self aggrandizement?  Is it really so egregious that he needs to go?  Yes.  The public trust has been breached.  Unlike the President who has immunity from the consequences of lying, a news anchor does not.   Nor should he.  

A Mistake By ISIS?

ISIS bid to intimidate Jordan into backing out of the coalition, such as it is, has failed.  At least for the time being.  So now they are trying to pin a guilt trip on them by claiming their increased bombing raids has killed the last American hostage - a 26 year old female aid worker from Prescott, AZ.

We shouldn't fall into that trap.  While it may be true, I wouldn't bet on it.  I suspect she have been long dead just as was the Jordanian pilot and I tremble at the thought of what she may have suffered before and during.

My guess is they used this not only to further intimidate the Jordanians, create outrage against Jordon from us but also to hide the fact she was already dead before a situation occurred where they'd have to show proof she was still alive.

Some degree of truth will seep out as the story is clarified; maybe we'll ask for proof of death.  If she was, however, killed by a missile strike then consider her fortunate.  It was probably quick with minimal suffering.  We can hope that was the case.

War is Hell. This enemy is the most evil of evils in modern times.  Look at the civilians that have already perished and how.  There will be more.  Too many more. As I hope this young lady has now  been exempted from further suffering, I'd like to think it was a just cause that caused it.  The beginning, real beginning, of the annihilation of ISIS.

As I understand why the Muslims like the King of Jordan cringe at the use of the word Islam in the description of these monsters, it is still Islam they have prostituted and they are with no apologies extremists and terrorists. Let's worry less about semantics and more about destroying this that is so evil.

Pure Evil

It's a shame it took the horrendous death of a young pilot to rally Muslims against the evil that lurks among them.  One can hope his death was not in vain.  It has changed the dynamic and maybe, just maybe, the fight against ISIS has a new leader.

The King of Jordan is one of the good guys just as was his father before him.  He has problems though what with the number of Palestinian refugees in his country and unrest fomented by the Muslim Brotherhood.

That being said, however, if the French, British and Canadians will rally their support behind him with the weaponry needed he can put a world of hurt on ISIS.  Why those three?  They have had the most prominent brushes with ISIS in their own countries and therefore have a huge stake in the game.
He should also have as boots on the ground allies the fierce Kurds who have shown their mettle in the fight for Kobani.

I don't for a minute think the Jordanian response is going to dissuade ISIS; I think it will rally them to even more horrendous deeds. Even if it's false bravado it's just as deadly. Therein lies a problem for us in case the President thinks he'll get a pass now that the Jordanians are madder than hell.

ISIS holds a 26 year old female American aid worker.  She could be next. If ISIS wants to take their shock level yet another step higher, she will be.

We're told by the White House press secretary that the President is using every resource available to locate her. I hope this is true but the President has said  many times before he'd take action than never has.  I'd not bet he will now.

So what fate could await this young woman? My husband suggested they might do as they do with many of their women - stone her to death.

What would the President do then? What would we demand?  And should he or we wait for such a despicable action to take place before upping our own ante in this fight?

Actions speak louder than words.  Right now I'm hearing the Jordanians and Kurds loud and clear while the "leader" of the free world,  rhetorically speaking, is no where to be seen.

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.