Monday, August 17, 2009

A post-Cold War World...

An article I read today displays just how ignorant President Obama is. Here is a link to the article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ivmFlotMyTRA3KyuWWaN9joQjHfAD9A4Q6RO0

"President Barack Obama took on both the defense establishment and freespending lawmakers on Monday, saying they were draining the nation's military budget with "exotic projects.""

Exotic projects? What does Obama consider an exotic project? Are planes an exotic project? How about submarines? Tanks? Guns? How about all that technology that's unmanning the front line? Is that considered exotic? Also, cutting "exotic projects" means that we are falling behind, and the other militaries of the world will become more technologically advanced making us antiquated and outdated. Which means when, and I do mean when not if, another war arises we will enter it completely unprepared, history records this very well- if you don't believe me, please read up on World War I and World War II.


"...he [Obama] also spoke harshly of a "defense establishment (that) has yet to fully adapt to the post-Cold War world."

A post-Cold War world.... interesting... Yes the "Cold War" era from the last century did end with the collapse of the Soviet Union. But lets look at what the term Cold War means, shall we?
Princeton defines a cold war as "a state of political hostility between countries using means short of armed warfare." So going by Princeton's definition, is the Cold War over? No, it is not. Granted the last 20 years or so have seen a reduction of tensions, but the pressure is rising. Relations between Russia and the U.S. are strained... Relations between China and the U.S. are strained, and North Korea has revoked the armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War. Brief clarification: In 1953 the United States and North Korea signed an armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War but did not end the war, a peace treaty was never signed, therefore we have technically been at war with North Korea for the last 50+ years, and now North Korea has revoked the armistice which means that the Korean War is now active again- whether or not people want acknowledge it.

So who were the tensions of the Cold War with? North Korea, Russia, and China. And who are the escalating tensions today with? North Korea, Russia and China. So is the Cold War really over?

"The president laid out a vision of a nimble, well-armed and multilingual fighting force of the future, not one that was built to fight land battles against the Soviets in Europe.
"Because in the 21st century, military strength will be measured not only by the weapons our troops carry, but by the languages they speak and the cultures they understand," the president said."

Military strength will be measured not only by the weapons our troops carry, but by the languages they speak and the cultures they understand.

What?! Languages they speak and cultures they understand. How the heck does that determine military strength? How on earth is that going to end hostilities? When an enemy is hell-bent on your destruction, being understanding of their culture will not save you. Military force will. Action will. Because "When diplomacy fails there's only one alternative...Force must be applied without apology"

I want our Military men and women fighting our wars, not a bunch of anthropologists!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

That darn Willie...

So we Memphians thought we had gotten rid of King Willie... He resigned and the special election to replace him is in October and it will cost 1.5 million dollars. All those who wish to run for mayor must file by September 13. And guess who has decided to run... Willie. Again. So in this economy, with our tight, over stretched city budget, he has now cost us an extra 1.5 million dollars. I'm hoping that those men in the little white jackets come for him soon....