Kim Jong-il bring happiness into our blogs
Originally uploaded by Borut Peterlin

Economy, Economy, Economy - But That Ain't All

Oh yeah, do we have economic problems that are consuming us all on a daily basis. But let us not forget or foreign policy problems.

We have the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, which since the election we have not heard much about (could just be a coincidence or could it be that the media reporting on the negatives no longer has a reason to report).

But we also have two of the members of the Axis of Evil flexing some military muscle, perhaps as a test of the United States resolve under a new administration, and perhaps because they are an incredible danger to us all.

Iran and North Korea

Who can forget these guys? As reported by Reuters on Tuesday, North Korea is preparing to test its' longest range ballistic missile as the tensions with South Korea escalate. This development is a result of some actions by South Korea that are considered provocative by the North, prompting Kim Jong-il and the government to announce that the Korean peninsula is on the brink of war.

Meanwhile Iran and it's leader President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched a home grown satellite into space that has technology that is very similar to that used in a ballistic missile. Iran says that the technology is for peaceful purposes, and who wouldn't believe him?

While being focused on the economy as well as on staffing his administration and the distractions that comes with it (damn taxes), our new President had best not forget that these are potentially very serious foreign policy events that have to be addressed and not back burnered because they have not bubbled over yet.

Let's be proactive instead of the typical stance of reactive.

 Nancy Pelosi
Originally uploaded by Lindsay Beyerstein

Good morning Leader Pelosi:

I am not one of your immediate constituents in California, but in your position as Leader of the House Of Representatives you do have a hand in the process that affects me as well as the people in the rest of the country.

I wanted to share an article regarding the need for TRUE, bi-partisan give and take when it comes at least in this case to getting this spiraling economic crisis to find a bottom and provide the potential for improvement.

I tried to send this to your office, but not being a constituent I wasn't allowed to, and the email address you provided for non-constituents bounced back so I am hoping that someone that reads this knows how to get it to you.

Please read the article in this blog from yesterday, and take these thoughts for how to handle this situation in the spirit that they are given:

End the verbal platitudes, end the blame game, end the endless politicking, put the country first and your career second, stop looking for what is in it for you and instead look for what is in it for all of us, understand that what you in Washington think is a big card game is peoples lives that are at stake.

What we have here is not a number on a Gallup poll or the potential loss of position on a committee for going against what the party leaders are saying. What we have here are the stores up and down the street closing, whole industry's being crippled, kids not being able to go to college, families losing their homes and kids going hungry.

You and your constituents who I will call the other members in Congress have your health insurance, good pensions, dining room, paid staff and paid office rent as well as other perks I don't even know about.

You can take as much time and play as many political games as you have to so that you look good for the people back home.

The rest of us do not have that luxury!!!

By the way, if you happen to see Chuck Shumer, Steve Israel or Harry Reid please ask them to get back to me on the letters I sent them.

Concern Over The Spread Of The Taliban

In my blog yesterday I discussed the spread of the Taliban from tribal regions to Pakistan proper, and the danger that this presents in a country whose government is fragile at best. The thinking is that with nuclear weapons under the control of some members of government who may be sympathetic to the Taliban, this is a major concern.

Some who responded to me on this questioned whether my concern for our safety from without was warranted. Where was my proof that there was any reason to be worried? As if 9/11 and the documented attacks before it were not enough, what of the desire of Iran to go nuclear? Is this a figment of our imagination? Take a look at the map and notice where it is that Iran sits. What country's does it border?

Americans have notoriously short memories, and after all 9/11 is almost 8 years removed and we have not had any repeat performances, due in large part to the actions of the Bush administration. That in no way means that we are out of the woods. Far from it.

The Obama Administration Iran Plan

In a realization of one of the fears during the campaign season, this is what it appears that the Obama administration plans to do with Iran:

"On Wednesday — less than 24 hours after his inauguration — the Obama White House Web site announced, inter alia, that they will engage in “tough and direct” diplomacy with Iran “without preconditions” and that he intends to use “the power of American diplomacy” to deal with “Iran’s illicit nuclear program, support for terrorism and threats towards Israel.” (Fox Forum).

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Are we going to sit at a table and negotiate in good faith with Ahmadinejad? Why don't we include North Korea and Venezuela as well while we are at it. How can you negotiate with documented liars who have stated that their goal is to wipe one of the parties in the negotiation off of the face of the earth.

People can sign anything they want, but if you are fairly sure that they will not adhere to any of it, then what is the point other than a public relations victory at home.

 Taliban Personified?
Originally uploaded by pav21

The Plan To Shut Gitmo Down May Run Into A Headwind While The Taliban Has Not Gone Away, Far from It

In what can only be termed as an extremely disturbing situation in Pakistan, the Taliban is becoming a stronger and stronger influence, not only in the tribal areas but now deeper into the heart of the country. In a front page article in the Sunday New York Times, this penetration and the accompanying spread of terror and brutal punishment for the "violation" of its' own interpretation of how life should be is showing no signs of abating. To the contrary it would seem to be gaining momentum.

What this means for not only the United States but for all of the world is that this spread of the Talibans power, the fear of the politicians and security forces to stand up to it as well as the uncertainty of who in government is actually sympathetic to the Taliban, all places a nuclear arsenal in unknown hands.

This is an area that the Obama administration needs to address immediately. We know that these weapons would not only be coveted, but if obtained would no doubt be attempted to be used.

A Possible Monkey Wrench In The Plans To Close Gitmo

In a story in Newsweek, a Pentagon report that is due to be declassified will reportedly show that some of the detainees that have been released from Guantanamo have gone back to their terroristic ways. If in fact this is the case, can the Obama administration take the chance that a newly released captive perpetrates an attack on us or on our allies. I don't think they can.

For the Obama administration, getting the economy back on track is critical, but let's not forget the dangers from without that have never gone away!

 White House, Washington D.C.
Originally uploaded by hanneorla

The Festivities And The Honeymoon Are Over!

Moving, Historic, Joyous, etc.

These fawning descriptions of the inauguration of Obama from our "unbiased" news reporters are all well and good. The comparisons to where we were in terms of race relations and where we are now are great, but at this point irrelevant. Bottom line. He is now President and will be judged on one thing, and one thing only. Performance. Let's see him perform.

It is now Wednesday and the pomp and circumstance are a thing of the past. The inaugural address with all of its' flowery words and promises is in the record books. The inaugural balls and parties are done and the hangovers are being dealt with. It is now time, as they say in show business to "get this show on the road"

Let's Implement The Change And Fresh Ideas

Swept into power by promises of "change" (although his circle of advisers represents anything but. Mostly more of the same old tired Washington retreads) and "yes we can", he has precious little time to get done what needs to be done. Primarily that would be the righting of the U.S. economy and a continuation of whatever policies have kept us safe since September 11th.

The accolades and ring kissing are behind us. The starting gate has opened and the announcer has said "They're Off". Although he will be given every benefit of the doubt by the liberal leaning media, they will, as the media does, turn on him in a split second if and when he falters.

All of that said, what is it that the American public wants him to accomplish from all of the things that he promised that he would:

• Ensure all children have health insurance 73%
  
  
• Double production of alternative energy 70%
  
  
• Reduce health care costs for families 70%
  
  
• Enact major spending program on infrastructure 60%
  
  
• Cut taxes for 95% of working families 57%
  
  
• Withdraw most troops from Iraq within 16 months 51%
  
  
• Increase military strength in Afghanistan 43%
  
  
• Lift restrictions on government funded stem-cell research 42%
  
  
• Close Guantanamo 32%
  
  
• Make it easier for unions to organize 28%

(USA Today/Gallup poll)

It's a short honeymoon Mr. President. Let's get this show on the road.

 Holder to Face Grilling Over Clinton Pardons
Originally uploaded by mashget

Grilled On Marc Rich and FALN Pardons

I talked on Friday about the Eric Holder confirmation hearings focusing on his spoken definition of torture. My hope is that in the back rooms of Washington, out of the cameras eye where most of the real decisions are made, when push comes to shove and innocent American lives, or innocent lives around the world may be at stake, the actual decision will be different. That actions necessary to obtain critical information will be taken.

Other Issues Faced

As the last sentence of my blog Friday morning I said that there were other issues that would be faced by Holder that could affect his ability to be confirmed. Namely these were the pardons of convicted felon, fugitive and Clinton donor Marc Rich as well as members of the terrorist group FALN in jail for murder. His testimony on Friday that mistakes were made, and that he will be a better Attorney General because of those mistakes, does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Is he political, or is he going to be the chief law enforcement official in the country?

I don't typically include long excerpts but these are very interesting. Stay tuned.

Re: Marc Rich (Source: AmericaNow.org)

SEN. PATRICK LEAHY: Some senators, following—including commentators like Karl Rove, have spoken extensively about your role in the pardon of fugitive Marc Rich at the end of President Clinton’s second term. How do you respond to those who say the Marc Rich pardon shows you do not have the character to be an independent attorney general? What did you learn from that experience?
ERIC HOLDER: Well, as I indicated in my opening statement, I made mistakes. That was and remains the most intense, most searing experience I’ve ever had as a lawyer. There were questions raised about me that I was not used to hearing. I’ve learned from that experience. I think that, as perverse as this might sound, I will be a better attorney general, should I be confirmed, having had the Marc Rich experience.
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER: Given the background of this man, it’s hard to brush it off, it seems to me, as a mistake. The guy had a reprehensible record. The guy was a fugitive. The indicators are—a House finding—that you were very heavily involved, and yet, you testified you were only casually involved. Question of candor on that comment. And then you had a president who obviously wanted to grant a pardon.
ERIC HOLDER: Well, I don’t mean to minimize what I did by calling it a mistake or mistakes. In fact, I take what I did seriously, and I’ve expressed regret for what I did consistently.

Re: FALN (Source: AmericaNow.org)

SEN. JEFF SESSIONS: You did indicate you thought the President’s decision on the FALN was reasonable. And I was United States attorney for twelve years, assistant United States attorney for two-and-a-half, attorney general for two. In my opinion, it’s not reasonable. It is not close. I mean, that’s all I can tell you. And I don’t believe it was a close question, and it worries me that you say that was a reasonable decision.
ERIC HOLDER: I looked at the situation, took into account the fact that these people were not directly involved in incidents that led to death or injuries.
SEN. JEFF SESSIONS: Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed weren’t directly involved in the murders; there were conspirators to that. And they probably and morally are more accountable, in my view, and equally accountable as those who actually carried out the attacks in the United States, wouldn’t you agree?
ERIC HOLDER: I would. But the FALN people are not in the same category as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or bin Laden, in that they were not the heads of the organization. That is not my understanding of the people who were with the—the pardons were granted. Again, I want to emphasize, these people were criminals. They were terrorists. I was not giving them a pass; they served substantial amounts of time. And I don’t want anybody—
SEN. JEFF SESSIONS: You recommended against the law enforcement people that they not serve the full time they were sentenced, and they wouldn’t even file papers—I don’t think any of them actually even asked for a pardon.

Postscript: A Senate Judiciary Committee vote could come by Wednesday, and if it is to recommend his confirmation a full Senate vote could come by Friday. My guess is he will be confirmed.