Two for one...

Eric Shinseki, former US Army Chief of Staff, and now former VA head, resigned in the wake of a growing scandal that has revealed the many problem of the Veterans Administration.  Aside from the horrible probability that at least 40 people have died waiting for treatment, there are reports that waiting lists have been fabricated to try and cover up more deaths. 

Part of Eric Shinseki's problem is that he spent his life in the military, where he gave orders and they were followed. In the anarchy that is civilian life, you are not even sure if the orders you issue are even heard.  That is why you follow up on things. "Fire and forget" never works.

Shinseki is lucky he is not going to jail.

Jay Carney clearly could not stomach spinning lies for the constant stream of scandals coming out of the Obama Administration.  He certainly gave his best effort, trying to restrict access and answering "I don't know" over and over.  Eventually, reporters started shouting over him and he figured it was time to go.

It is time for this entire administration to go.

Unfortunately, I don't know what will follow.

At least we have a couple of years to figure it out.

Eurasian Century?

Same picture because it is the same subject

Russia and China are becoming close pals and a lot of people are noticing.  The two countries just signed a $400 billion dollar natural gas deal (that looked doomed for a while), and they have military excersices planned.  The Russians do not seem too worried about being thrown out of the G8 for they seem more intersted in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).  They are also sending new aid to Iran for the reactor that is being constructed much to Israel and the US angst.

Russia is performing her own "pivot"--going East



The United States is $17 trillion in the hole, has cut its military back, and is pivoting toward Asia to confront a huge China while a not quite as huge but still pretty big Russia is resurgent in Europe. 

There is an old Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." 

It is getting a little too intersting

This article sums it up well:

 http://rt.com/op-edge/160160-pipelineistan-brics-economy-deals/

Just follow the pipelines......

May 12!

Always a big day on the Haas calender!

It has been a busy month but a pretty good one!

This whole Ukraine thing is taking a turn for the surreal.  I don't think World War III is going to break out but this could still have some repercussions in the long run.

May 12 is the day I defeated The Citadel, graduating with two degrees despite threats of court-martial and lots of underhanded behavior on their part that violated their Honor Code both in letter and spirit. 

Ask for forgiveness and you will have it.

On the other hand, I don't see them doing that although they keep begging me for money.

I am not holding a grudge.

After all, I won :-)