The Leveller: A modern day regulator

Why Georgia...Why?

During the run up to the Iraq war I briefly surveyed the middle east and was curious what other little hot spots of interest may exist. In 2003, starting in Sept. I started with news headlines that featured U.S. diplomats that traveled to countries in nearby areas.

In that time frame, Rumsfeld or Cheney landed in Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, not in that order, proclaiming each in turn for the months of sept thru nov are designated central fronts in the war on terror.

Immediately following these proclamations the U.S. landed professional soldiers in these territories to provide “training” and other logistics to the host countries military’s.

At the same time the World Bank ‘finally’ secured financing to complete an oil pipeline that no one else wants. Read here about BAKU.

^{It will require constant guarding to prevent sabotage}

I believe this is what Iraq was really about. I also believe the Georgian conflict will erupt into a broader conflict because of it.

“Standing by the side of the Zaramakh Highway, now marked heavily with tank treads, Pyotr, a 60-year-old vendor selling grilled meat in the Ossetian style, thinks that he has the conflict all figured out.

“Every country wants to look out for its own interests,” said Pyotr, who refused to give his last name. There’s gas and oil down there and access to the sea. That’s why the West wants to take it.

Listen to a fellow American in Georgia describe current events.

Joe Mestas, American citizen living in South Ossetia, who witnessed everything happening in the region, talked to RT and blamed U.S. and Georgian leaders for the outbreak of violence

Getting worse? Or time for optimism?

Making predictions is useless but I find myself trying to make them from time to time. I will predict that the next administration will be dumber than the last. While this may be a shock to some of you it makes sense to me.

I know, I know. Is that even possible? I believe so. Look, it is not as if we are getting the best and brightest minds in politics here running a government. The founding principles which are disregarded in total yet both sides of the isle pretend to support those principles.

We may be finished with the dumbest commander in chief on record in our nation’s history but the same cabal more or less has been running the show since the late 60’s. While most are in retirement age the whore’s inhabiting the White House off and on for the last 40 years are not dumb.

We can continue to have the dumbest in the top post but the people surrounding the President are usually by and large very skilled and adept politicians or technocrats.

Our deficit is not brain power but scruples.

The next administration represents a change in that gone will be the pre-Vietnam era Republican neocon socialist types that champion big centralized government and imperial power.

However the legacy will endure. We will not see a flip-flop of Repub or Dem like we observed after the civil war era however, where the classical liberals used to be democrats but emerged as Republicans from those ashes.

Instead we will continue see two parties in name with each party literally arguing for more government intervention.

I doubt there has ever been a larger expansion of government than what has occurred over the last 8 years. New agencies have been erected with new positions requiring presidential appointment. An irresponsible budget that has soared faster than ever.

The next administration will be all about trying to fix what ever is not working. Of course we already see this now but the both campaigns will seek election on who can do the most, who has the better solution, who has the better ideas to solve different problems. Its an unfortunate but expected outcome. We know that the representatives only aggravate and never usually ameliorate.

Why can they just tax enough to make worthwhile endeavors. Medicine and science perhaps and the basics? Even that may be too much but enough is enough I say.

U.S. troops died in Taliban attempt to storm base

As in Vietnam, we have spokespeople characterizing each battle as a victory. In this case the U.N. spokesperson on tv claimed that the enemy intended to overrun the base and they “failed” and that our forces brought about a victory. First how does he know what the attackers “intended” to do? Even still, what victory is this?

I simply thought it was remarkable that the spokesperson characterized this defensive action as a major achievement in the afghanistan war. Compared to Vietnam it would seem the year is ’67 rather than ’08. It was in 1967 when we saw changes in how the situation was reported and rhetoric from the administration.

With an election later this year we will see such a change and a difference in how the military reports compared to how the administration characterizes the war. Then we will see the same excuses after a major U.S pullout. As in Vietnam, that the military was not permitted to win the war.

reuters

Army study: Iraq occupation was understaffed

Another study stating the obvious. But understaffed for what? To contain or control the population? Where is the study on that? An “if adequately staffed” study.

Also obvious to me would be the conclusion that says this was a failure regardless of staffing. But perhaps the Army or the administration more appropriately could first declare the objective then state more specifically the success or how it may fail.

But of course, Mr. President says failure is not an option. And so does McCain if that ego maniac moron wins.

Just curious but when is something a failure if it clearly is not a success?

Army study: Iraq occupation was understaffed

We both share a great love of history

“We both share a great love of history,” said Brown at their London press conference.

History is the judge the two leaders are relying on to decide in their favor at some indeterminate future date

Bullshit if Bush shares a great love of history! Remember the interview with Woodward on 60 minutes when he asked the president about history. Bush’ response was something like “who cares, we’ll all be dead”.

Argh!!!