Happy Greek Independence Day! March 25, 1821!
Perfect excuse to eat some gyros!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Happy Greek Independence Day
Happy Greek Independence Day! March 25, 1821!
Perfect excuse to eat some gyros!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Take a side, son...
When I heard that the US armed forces had attacked Libya, a line from Battlestar Galactica immediately came to mind:
"Take a side, son."
That is preciesely what the US has not done.
Plunging into a THIRD Middle Eastern war, this adminsitration, like the last one, seems to blunder along without any real idea what it is doing.
What is the objective in Libya?
Obama mumbled something about protecting civilians.
By taking out Khaddafy's air force and not getting any boots on the ground, we have assured a stalemate.
In a civil war, which is what is happening in Libya, there are no neutral corners. Either you enter on one side or stay out of it completely. If the US was on the side of the rebels, planes would have been hitting Khaddafy when he was forced back into Tripoli. Hillary Clinton said US policy was to remove Khaddafy, so that means we are not on his side. If Khadaffy wins, he is not going to like us very much and we don't seem to be aiding the rebels.
So what are we doing there?
Answer: push up oil prices....
A stalemate ensures more conflict. Conflict means higher oil prices.
The Pentagon's comment yesterday "expect more strikes in the coming hours and days" is a startling departure from traditional policy of not commenting on operational details. It is also not a smart move to telegraph your next move.
Oil prices, of course, went up when this news spread.
Other things to look at.....
Who is leading this operation? The US was supposed to "hand off" to NATO but so far America has handled 85% of the sorties. US Africa Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany(?), is supposed to be leading this but now it is supposed to be a NATO operation and the North Atlantic Council has yet to meet.
Another question: Who is paying for this? According to Yahoo news, it will cost the US $800 million to set up a "no-fly" zone and $100 million a week to keep it in place.
A country with trillion dollar deficits has no business getting mixed up in protracted wars.
See "Spain, 1588, Netherlands" for further information.
Yes, history repeats itself.
Anyone want to open a debate on the War Powers Act?
Maybe Rahm Emanuel did the smart thing in getting out while he still could....
"Take a side, son."
That is preciesely what the US has not done.
Plunging into a THIRD Middle Eastern war, this adminsitration, like the last one, seems to blunder along without any real idea what it is doing.
What is the objective in Libya?
Obama mumbled something about protecting civilians.
By taking out Khaddafy's air force and not getting any boots on the ground, we have assured a stalemate.
In a civil war, which is what is happening in Libya, there are no neutral corners. Either you enter on one side or stay out of it completely. If the US was on the side of the rebels, planes would have been hitting Khaddafy when he was forced back into Tripoli. Hillary Clinton said US policy was to remove Khaddafy, so that means we are not on his side. If Khadaffy wins, he is not going to like us very much and we don't seem to be aiding the rebels.
So what are we doing there?
Answer: push up oil prices....
A stalemate ensures more conflict. Conflict means higher oil prices.
The Pentagon's comment yesterday "expect more strikes in the coming hours and days" is a startling departure from traditional policy of not commenting on operational details. It is also not a smart move to telegraph your next move.
Oil prices, of course, went up when this news spread.
Other things to look at.....
Who is leading this operation? The US was supposed to "hand off" to NATO but so far America has handled 85% of the sorties. US Africa Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany(?), is supposed to be leading this but now it is supposed to be a NATO operation and the North Atlantic Council has yet to meet.
Another question: Who is paying for this? According to Yahoo news, it will cost the US $800 million to set up a "no-fly" zone and $100 million a week to keep it in place.
A country with trillion dollar deficits has no business getting mixed up in protracted wars.
See "Spain, 1588, Netherlands" for further information.
Yes, history repeats itself.
Anyone want to open a debate on the War Powers Act?
Maybe Rahm Emanuel did the smart thing in getting out while he still could....
Monday, March 14, 2011
Back into battle...
Picture from Reuters....
I had a nice Spring Break. I did not go anywhere but I got some work done (welcome to Graduate School...) and caught up on The Office and watched my Penguins advance up the NHL standings with a roster of players I had never seen! There is a lesson for all of us.
Never give up!
Best of all, I got to spend a lot of time with Michelle :-)
And the cats......I love them too.
I am going to be very busy on the final (coursework) stretch. Down the Appian Way towards the thesis, which looks like it is going to be done during the Summer but it is going to be finished. After that, who knows? Teaching? PhD? I should get to Book Number Three. There are so many imponderables.
Then you look at the news and shake your head. Japan, gas prices, NFL on strike (how hard is it to split $9 billion?)
It is easy to dwell on bad news but let's try not to.
I will say one thing though: find your closest Red Cross and see what you can donate for the people of Japan. Especially if you have Type O blood.
I am going to hit the sack early and charge back into the fray tomorrow.
Wherever you are, remember, you are one day closer to your goal.
If you don't have one, find one! And look at the line above again.
GO FORTH AND CONQUER!!!
Friday, March 4, 2011
POTUS MIA?
Look at this video (courtesy of the Obama Campaign, now Administration)....Note it is 2008, note the price in the background, note that oil at that time was $110 a barrel. Now it is $105 a barrel and gas averages $3.50 a gallon. Where is the administration?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnLP12X3EgM
Oil math: For every dollar that the price of a barrel of oil rises, that translates into 2.5 cents at the pump. Include the 50 or 60 cent mark up at the station and you have the price for a gallon of gas.
At $105 a barrel, today's closing price, you are faced with this equation: 105 x .025 =$2.62. Now add 60 cents and you arrive at $3.22. The average price in America for a gallon of gas in $3.43. No, they can't possibly be gouging anyone at the pump.....
...and there is a Santa Claus
Feel free to stand up for yourself at any time now America.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnLP12X3EgM
Oil math: For every dollar that the price of a barrel of oil rises, that translates into 2.5 cents at the pump. Include the 50 or 60 cent mark up at the station and you have the price for a gallon of gas.
At $105 a barrel, today's closing price, you are faced with this equation: 105 x .025 =$2.62. Now add 60 cents and you arrive at $3.22. The average price in America for a gallon of gas in $3.43. No, they can't possibly be gouging anyone at the pump.....
...and there is a Santa Claus
Feel free to stand up for yourself at any time now America.....
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