DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
There's A New Political Blogger Ready To Rock Your World
GO HERE to see their new Site, "Sic Semper Tyrannis." Hopefully they won't be as verbose as Michael Schwartz but from the looks of it they know what they're talking about.
Fightin' Mad
"A true conservative from the depths of Lower Shore Maryland. A "come-here" by definition, I have fallen in love with the area and have chosen it as my domain."
Fightin' Mad
"A true conservative from the depths of Lower Shore Maryland. A "come-here" by definition, I have fallen in love with the area and have chosen it as my domain."
Village Of Tony Tank Update
The latest word - from a resident, is that the money has been returned - with interest plus additional money - charges may still be filed?
Super Bingo Comes To The Westside Community Center
$300 Minimum Jackpot up for Grabs
(Salisbury, MD) See if you will be the lucky player to shout bingo at the Westside Community Center’s Super Bingo on Friday, May 30. Doors will open at 5:00pm with games starting at 7:00pm.
Tickets are $25 in advance and increase to $30 at the door. Price includes sixteen bingo games, five Quickie Bingo games, and five U-Pick’ems. Each game will offer a minimum of $25 in prize money. One lucky winner will take home a $300 minimum Jackpot at the end of the night. Hold’ems and Pull Tabs will be sold separately. Concessions offering oyster sandwiches, bbq chicken, hot dogs and more will also be available.
For more information or to purchase tickets call Joy Klauder at 410-873-2993 or email westside@wicomicocounty.org. All proceeds directly benefit youth programs at the Westside Community Center, which is located at 21109 Bivalve Lodge Road in Bivalve, MD. Operated by a local advisory council, the Westside Community Center provides recreational and educational programs to the Nanticoke, Bivalve, Tyaskin, Whitehaven and Quantico communities.
If you would like to learn about other upcoming programs offered by the Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism Department sign up for Recreation email alerts at www.wicomicorecandparks.org.
(Salisbury, MD) See if you will be the lucky player to shout bingo at the Westside Community Center’s Super Bingo on Friday, May 30. Doors will open at 5:00pm with games starting at 7:00pm.
Tickets are $25 in advance and increase to $30 at the door. Price includes sixteen bingo games, five Quickie Bingo games, and five U-Pick’ems. Each game will offer a minimum of $25 in prize money. One lucky winner will take home a $300 minimum Jackpot at the end of the night. Hold’ems and Pull Tabs will be sold separately. Concessions offering oyster sandwiches, bbq chicken, hot dogs and more will also be available.
For more information or to purchase tickets call Joy Klauder at 410-873-2993 or email westside@wicomicocounty.org. All proceeds directly benefit youth programs at the Westside Community Center, which is located at 21109 Bivalve Lodge Road in Bivalve, MD. Operated by a local advisory council, the Westside Community Center provides recreational and educational programs to the Nanticoke, Bivalve, Tyaskin, Whitehaven and Quantico communities.
If you would like to learn about other upcoming programs offered by the Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism Department sign up for Recreation email alerts at www.wicomicorecandparks.org.
We Are Going to Try Another Live Blog
No promises. Tonight we are going to attempt our first live blog from the city council chambers in Salisbury. It should work out fine, unless:
Louise throws me out.
No power.
Barrie figures out how to shut off the Wi-Fi in the council chambers.
Louise throws me out ....
Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, Salisbury politics, blogging, Louise Smith
Louise throws me out.
No power.
Barrie figures out how to shut off the Wi-Fi in the council chambers.
Louise throws me out ....
Powered by ScribeFire.
Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, Salisbury politics, blogging, Louise Smith
Fernando Guerrero Heads Back Into The Ring & The Classroom
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Fernando Guerrero 6(6)-0 VS Chuck Orso 4(3)- 7
Where Fitzgeral Casino MS
When Sat May 24th
This is Fernando's first fight in the pros against another South paw like himself. It poses some new challenges and will serve as a good test to see how he handles a southpaw. Orso has ko'd 3 of his for opponents so with a 75% KO ratio on his wins, he is expected to bring some punching power into the ring.
On Friday Fernando and his Manager/Trainer Hal Chernoff spent the morning at East Salisbury School for career day. Along with others they spoke about the career's they have chosen and what it has taken to get this far as well as what it will take to continue the climb. Fernando spoke on subjects that ranged from proper training and making sacrifices as well as suggestions of proper dress and conduct outside the ring. All of the classes were listened intently and had many questions when he finishes. "It was a lot of fun, I go back to my old school a lot because I mentor a student there that boxes in the gym, but being able to speak to all the classes and the idea that maybe one of these kids may take what I say and use it to bear down in school and in what ever else they are interested in really inspires me to want to do more of this"
In June Fernando and Hal have been asked to speak at Parkside during their "dress for success day" I hope they are as receptive as the kids at East Salisbury. "Now all I have to do is get my Coach to start dressing better" he said with a laugh. Chernoff added" I could dress like a bum because those kids don't even see me, their eyes are fixed on Fernando. I just enjoy watching."
TWO YEARS AGO TODAY
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It was two years ago today when this Blog really started to be recognized. I chose to cover an event in Seaford Delaware where two local Soldiers had died in Iraq, (Corey Palmer and Rick James) and if you'll recall, (those 25 or 50 loyal visitors back then) those nut jobs from Texas came in to protest the Funeral.
I had this gut feeling something was going to happen and while the MSM went to the Church to cover the funeral, I stayed behind. I just knew something was going to bust loose. Needless to say a riot broke out and I was smack dab in the middle of it with objects flying just over my head and Police Officers doing their best to break things up.
Boy, those were the days! Now I get to go to Council Meetings and deal with their BS! May these two men rest in peace and with any successful prayers the Families have found peace as well?
Hillary Tilghman Wants Your Money
Like her idol, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman is a flip-flopper of the first magnitude. Raising taxes, mismanaging the taxpayers' money, telling whoppers to the public (and the press) is all in a days work for the illustrious Queen of Barrieland. Now Tilghman wants to mimic the likes of Hillary and Sen. John Kerry.
Before she was FOR a plan that would INCREASE water and sewer rates by 72% over the next five years, she was against it. Just as Clinton voted for the war before she opposed it and Kerry opposed the war before he voted for it, Tilghman was AGAINST an increase in the city's water and sewer rates. Of course this was AFTER she was FOR a 10% increase last year (despite what she told the Daily Times).
If you are becoming confused, don't feel bad. This is precisely what Tilghman wants.
Tilghman hoped to force the council to come up with this on their own, but since the only two members of council with a backbone don't carry water for Tilghman, that was a bust. Now Tilghman is placed in the position of asking for a HUGE rate increase. If we use Bill Duvall's figure of an average annual water and sewer bill of $962.00, the average ratepayer will see their cost rise to $1,665 in FY 2013! (see the attached table for a full explanation). Over a five year period this amounts to a 72% increase over the current rates! (Note that others writing about this issue neglect to add in the final 3% in year 5)
Is such an increase necessary? That remains open to debate. What is not debatable are two ponts:
Some rate increase will be necessary. and ...
The Cause -
a complete lack of planning on the part of the Tilghman administration coupled with a seemingly insane desire to subsidize residential developers through the thoroughly discredited Tilghman / Comegys / Dunn Growth Pays for Growth "strategy".
City Finance Director Pam Oland claims that "part of the increase had nothing to do with growth". This is probably true. Of course she fails to discuss how much of the increase IS related to growth and why the developers are not paying that portion of the cost.
Solutions exist for, at least, portions of this problem. Unfortunately for the taxpayers (and ratepayers) of Salisbury they will not be adopted by this council. Cutting wasteful spending is not amenable to the likes of Louise Smith, Gary Comegys or Shanie Shields. In a land governed by a fascist queen and administered using the peculiar (and disreputable) laws of Bubbanomics we are lead to believe that enlarging the city's bureaucracy somehow contributes to economic growth.
Voters do have an option available to them; but it cannot be exercised until next year.
cross posted at Delmarva Dealings
Before she was FOR a plan that would INCREASE water and sewer rates by 72% over the next five years, she was against it. Just as Clinton voted for the war before she opposed it and Kerry opposed the war before he voted for it, Tilghman was AGAINST an increase in the city's water and sewer rates. Of course this was AFTER she was FOR a 10% increase last year (despite what she told the Daily Times).
If you are becoming confused, don't feel bad. This is precisely what Tilghman wants.
Tilghman hoped to force the council to come up with this on their own, but since the only two members of council with a backbone don't carry water for Tilghman, that was a bust. Now Tilghman is placed in the position of asking for a HUGE rate increase. If we use Bill Duvall's figure of an average annual water and sewer bill of $962.00, the average ratepayer will see their cost rise to $1,665 in FY 2013! (see the attached table for a full explanation). Over a five year period this amounts to a 72% increase over the current rates! (Note that others writing about this issue neglect to add in the final 3% in year 5)
Is such an increase necessary? That remains open to debate. What is not debatable are two ponts:
Some rate increase will be necessary. and ...
The Cause -
a complete lack of planning on the part of the Tilghman administration coupled with a seemingly insane desire to subsidize residential developers through the thoroughly discredited Tilghman / Comegys / Dunn Growth Pays for Growth "strategy".
City Finance Director Pam Oland claims that "part of the increase had nothing to do with growth". This is probably true. Of course she fails to discuss how much of the increase IS related to growth and why the developers are not paying that portion of the cost.
Solutions exist for, at least, portions of this problem. Unfortunately for the taxpayers (and ratepayers) of Salisbury they will not be adopted by this council. Cutting wasteful spending is not amenable to the likes of Louise Smith, Gary Comegys or Shanie Shields. In a land governed by a fascist queen and administered using the peculiar (and disreputable) laws of Bubbanomics we are lead to believe that enlarging the city's bureaucracy somehow contributes to economic growth.
Voters do have an option available to them; but it cannot be exercised until next year.
cross posted at Delmarva Dealings
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Great Comment!
Fightin' Mad Said....
"So this is her argument for needing all this money? Why did she wait until now to begin asking for these repairs? She's been Mayor for 10 years and this is just now an issue? C'mon Barrie..."
Excellent point! This is exactly why the intelligent Council Members are questioning her motives. This is nothing new to the Mayor and why was it produced LONG AFTER her proposed Budget? Any taxpayer falling for her load of crap is, well, just as dumb as she wants you to be.
Salisbury News Helps Women In Newport, Virginia
Jermaine S. Wright was featured HERE in this earlier article on Salisbury News. Today I received a call from a woman in Newport Virginia asking about more information on this man as they had become aware that he was now located in their area. Long Live The Blogs! Part of the details from that article said, "In 1992 he raped and killed a girl at one of the under 21 clubs in Ocean City. The dna evidence somehow became compromised so they had to let him go."
This woman is in the Real Estate business and wanted to make sure this information was circulated to ALL Real Estate Agents throughout the area.
Herb McMillan New President MD Taxpayers Assoc
The Board of Directors of the Maryland Taxpayers Association announced today the election of Herb McMillan as president of the non-profit , all volunteer, non-partisan organization. MTA supports limited government and low taxes and is Maryland sponsor of the “No New Taxes” pledge, which members of both political parties have signed (see www.mdtaxes.org ).
Also Dee Hodges, previously the President since 2001, moved to Chairman.
McMillan is an American Airlines pilot holding the rank of Captain. He is also a former General Assembly delegate from Anne Arundel County (2002-2006) and headed the Taxpayer Protection Caucus in the House of Delegates. Previous to service on the state level, he served on the Annapolis City Council. He is a 1980 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Hodges is a retired banker from Baltimore County and originally from Montgomery County. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and holds a M.S. Finance from the University of Baltimore.
“McMillan will be able to call on his experiences to add a new dimension to MTA,” said Hodges.
Also Dee Hodges, previously the President since 2001, moved to Chairman.
McMillan is an American Airlines pilot holding the rank of Captain. He is also a former General Assembly delegate from Anne Arundel County (2002-2006) and headed the Taxpayer Protection Caucus in the House of Delegates. Previous to service on the state level, he served on the Annapolis City Council. He is a 1980 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Hodges is a retired banker from Baltimore County and originally from Montgomery County. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and holds a M.S. Finance from the University of Baltimore.
“McMillan will be able to call on his experiences to add a new dimension to MTA,” said Hodges.
Barrie's Latest Scam
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We may not be witnessing Barrie Tilghman’s last scam as mayor, but it could be the final whopper. And it is that, her role model (Hillary Clinton) could be proud of the maneuver that began a month ago when Barrie presented her proposed budget that had no increase in the sewer or water rates. Predictably, the mainstream media reacted like well trained seals to sardines.
But then sharper eyes saw her statement in the “budget message” that she wanted to collaborate with the Council on the rates before the budget was adopted. And word began leaking that the administration would be asking for a big rate increase.
Smoke became fire on May 8, when the Council held its scheduled work session to discuss the sewer and water budget. Barrie must have been otherwise engaged if not indisposed – she did not attend the work session. But the head of the Public Works Department, Jim Caldwell, and Doreen Turner of that Department discussed various “scenarios” based on the financial forecasting model that Ms. Turner has developed. Under each of them there would be a sizeable rate increase. Under the scenario that Mr. Caldwell recommended, about it would be 50% over the next few years, beginning as soon as possible.
Faced with a conflicted administration two members of the Council (Ms. Campbell and Ms. Cohen) proposed that they should ask the Mayor to discuss her proposal of no increase in rates in light of the financial forecast scenarios, but Mr. Comegys and Ms. Smith opposed doing so. But that was not the outcome – apparently the mayor decided to address the situation with the Council, and that meeting has occurred on May 20.
And we now have a brand new budget proposed by Barrie Tilghman just before the public hearing on the budget that has been scheduled late in the process, leaving no meaningful opportunity for the public to consider the situation or plan to attend and speak at the hearing.
Hey, Salisbury, YOU’VE BEEN SNOOKERED once again!
NO DAILY TIMES DELIVERY AGAIN THIS MORNING
I don't know what's going on with the Daily Times but they're back to their old ways and proving that a $3 million dollar Press wasn't the saviour after all. Perhaps I'll just order the Ocean City Today and have it delivered once a week instead?
Question of the Day, Wed 5/21
Today is National Employee Health & Fitness Day.
Does your employer have a health/fitness program or a local gym membership (free or discounted)? If not, would you join if they did?
Does your employer have a health/fitness program or a local gym membership (free or discounted)? If not, would you join if they did?
Food for Thought
I received this from a family member who, oddly enough, is totally opposed to the war in Iraq. I haven't been able to find anything about this on "Snopes", so I can't confirm it's origin or legitimacy. I do, however, find it interesting. A very long read......but it was worth it to me.
A Powerful Piece ............................................This is one of the most profound articles that I have ever read about this Presidency, this era, and this so-called war. No matter your politics, you owe it to yourself to read this. An assessment of where the US stands in relation to the Middle East problems, this one is from the guy who had his finger on the nuclear trigger for three years as head of our defense and response complex buried under Cheyenne Mountain at Colorado Springs.He was the only person who could initiate a nuclear attack afte r advising the sitting president of a missile launch by our enemies and our need to respond.No political or civilian type in the US had more knowledge about day to day military actions around the world.Everyone should find quiet time to read this. As far as I am concerned, it is exactly the direction we should go and the consequences of not doing so are well thought out.John R. ( Jack ) Farrington, Major General, USAF (Retired)Middle East Imperative & nbsp; by: James Cash, Brigadier General, USAF, RetiredI wrote recently about the war in Iraq and the larger war against radical Islam, eliciting a number of responses. Let me try and put this conflict in proper perspective.Understand; the current battle we are engaged in is much bigger than just Iraq . What happens in the next year will affect this country and how our kids and grand kids live throughout their lifetime, and beyond. Radical Islam has been attacking the West since the seventh century. They have been defeated in the past and decimated to the point of taking hundreds of years to recover. But they can never be totally defeated. Their birth rates are so far beyond civilized world rates, that in time they recover and attempt to dominate again.There are eight terror-sponsoring countries that make up the grand threat to the West. Two , Saudi Arabia and Pakistan just need firm pressure from the West to make major reforms. They need to decide who they are really going to support and commit to that support.That answer is simple. They both will support who they think will hang in there until the end, and win.We are not sending very good signals in that direction right now, thanks to the Democrats.The other six, Afghanistan , Iraq , Iran , Syria , North Korea and Libya will require regime change or a major policy shift. Now, let's look more closely.Afghanistan and Iraq have both had regime changes, but are being fueled by outsiders from Syria and Iran . We have scared Gaddafi's pants off, and he has given up his quest for nuclear weapons, so I don't think Libya is now a threat.North Korea (the non-Islamic threat) can be handled diplomatically by buying them off. They are starving. That leaves Syria and Iran . Syria is like a frightened puppy. Without the support of Iran they will join the stronger side. So where does that leave us? Sooner, or later, we are going to be forced to confront Iran , and it better be before they gain nuclear capability.In 1989 I served as a Command Director inside the Cheyenne Mountain complex located in Colorado Springs , Colorado for almost three years. My job there was to observe (through classified means) every missile shot anywhere in the world and assess if it was a threat to the US or Canada . If any shot was threatening to either nation I had only minutes to advise the President, as he had only minutes to respond.I watched Iran and Iraq shoot missi les at each other every day, and all day long, for months. They killed hundreds of thousands of their people. Know why? They were fighting for control of the Middle East and that enormous oil supply.At that time, they were preoccupied with their internal problems and could care less about toppling the west. Oil prices were fairly stable and we could not see an immediate threat.Well, the worst part of what we have ;done as a nation in Iraq is to do away with the military capability of one of those nations. Now, Iran has a clear field to dominate the Middle East, since Iraq is no longer a threat to them.They have turned their attention to the only other threat to their dominance, they are convinced they will win, because the US is so divided, and the Democrats (who now control Congress and may contr ol the Presidency in 2008) have openly said we are pulling out.Do you have any idea what will happen if the entire Middle East turns their support to Iran , which they will obviously do if we pull out? It is not the price of oil we will have to worry about. Oil WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE to this country at any price.. I personally would vote for any presidential candidate who did what JFK did with the space program---declare a goal to bring this country to total energy independence in a decade.Yes, it is about oil. The economy in this country will totally die if that Middle East supply is cut off right now. It will not be a recession. It will be a depression that will make 1929 look like the 'good-old-days'. The bottom line here is simple. If Iran is forced to fall in line, the fighting in Iraq will end over night, and the nightmare will be over.One way or another, Iran must be forced to join modern times and the global community. It may mean a real war---if so, now is the time, before we face a nuclear Iran with the capacity to destroy Israel and begin a new ice age.I urge you to read the book 'END GAME' by two of our best Middle East experts, true American patriots and retired military generals, Paul Vallely and Tom McInerney . Th ey are our finest, and totally honest in their assessment of why victory in the Middle East is so important, and how it can be won. Proceeds for the book go directly to memorial fund for our fallen soldiers who served the country during the war on terror. You can find that book by going to the Internet through Stand-up America at.On the other hand, we have several very angry retired generals today, who evidently have not achieved their lofty goals, and insist on ranting and raving about the war. They are wrong, and doing the country great harm by giving a certain political party reason to use them as experts to back their anti-war claims.You may be one of those who believe nothing could ever be terrible enough to support our going to war. If that is the case I should stop here, as that level of thinking approaches mental disability in this day and age. It is right up there with alien abductions and high altitude seeding through government aircraft contrails. I helped produce those contrails for almost 30 years, and I can assure you we were not seeding the atmosphere. The human race is a war-like population, and if a country is not willing to protect itself, it deserves the consequences.'Enough - said!'Now, my last comments will get to the nerve. They will be on politics.I am not a Republican. And, George Bush has made enough mistakes as President to insure my feelings about that for the rest of my life. However, the Democratic Party has moved so far left, they have made me support those farther to the right.I am a conservative who totally supports the Constitution of this country. The only difference between the United States and the South American, third world, dictator infested and ever-changing South American governments, is our US Constitution.This Republic (note I did not say Democracy) is the longest standing the world has ever known, but it is vulnerable. It would take so little to change it through economic upheaval. There was a time when politicians could disagree, but still work together. We are past that time, and that is the initial step toward the downfall of our form of government.I think that many view Bush-hating as payback time. The Republicans hated the Clinton 's and now the Democrats hate Bush.So, both parties are putting their hate toward willingness to do anything for pol itical dominance to include lying and always taking the opposite stand just for the sake of being opposed. JUST HOW GOOD IS THAT FOR OUR COUNTRY?In my lifetime, after serving in uniform for President's Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan , and Bush I have a pretty good feel for which party supported our military, and what military life was like under each of their terms. And, let me assure you that times were best under the Republicans.Service under Jimmy Carter was devastating for all branches of the military. And, Ronald Regan was truly a salvation.You can choose to listen to enriched newscasters, and foolish people like John Murtha (he is no war hero), Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, Harry Reid, Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and on-and-on to include the true fools in Hollywood if you like. If you do, your conclusions will be totally wrong.The reason that I write, appear on radio talk shows, and do everything I can to denounce those people is simple. THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR THIRST FOR POLITICAL POWER AND QUEST FOR VICTORY IN 2008 ABOVE WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS COUNTRY. I cannot abide that.Pelosi clearly defied the Logan Act by going to Syria , which should have lead to imprisonment of three years and a heavy fine.Jane Fonda did more to prolong the Vietnam War than any other human being (as acknowledged by Ho Chi Minh in his writing before he died). She truly should have been indicted for treason, along with her radical husband, Tom Hayden, and forced to pay the consequences.This country has started to soften by not enforcing its laws, which is another indication of a Republic about to fall.All Democrats, along with the Hollywood elite, are sending us headlong into a total defeat in the Middle East, which will finally give Iran total dominance in the region. A lack of oil in the near future will be the final straw that dooms this Republic.However, if we refuse to let this happen and really get serious about an energy self-sufficiency program, this can be avoided. I am afraid, however, that we are going in the opposite direction.If we elect Hillary Clinton and a Democrat controlled congress, and they carry through with allowing Iran to take control of the Middle E ast, continue to refuse development of nuclear energy, refuse to allow drilling for new oil, and continue to do nothing but oppose everything Bush, it will be over in terms of what we view as the good life in the USA.Now, do I think that all who do not support the war are un-American--- of course not. They just do not understand the importance of total victory in that region.Another failure of George Bush is his inability to explain to the American people why we are there, and why we MUST win.By the way, it is not a war. The war was won four years ago. It is martial law that is under attack by Iranian and Syrian outside influences, and there is a difference.So, what do I believe? What is the bottom line? I will simply say that the Democratic Party has fielded the foulest, power hungry, anti-country, self absorbed group of individuals that I have observed in my lifetime. Our educational system is partially to blame for al lowing the mass of America to be taken in by this group. George Bush has done the best he can with the disabilities that he possesses.A President must communicate with the people. And, I would tell you that Desert Storm spoiled the people. Bush Senior's 100-hour war convinced the people that technology has progressed to the point that wars could be fought with no casualties and won in very short periods of time.I remember feeling at the time, that this was a tragedy for the US military. To win wars, you must put boots on the ground. When you put boots on the ground, soldiers are going to die. A President must make the war decision wisely, and insure that the cause is right before using his last political option.HOWEVER, CONTROLLING IRAN AND DEMOCRATIZING THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE ONLY CHOICE IF WE ARE HELL BENT ON DEPENDING ON THEM FOR OUR FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS.
Jimmy L. Cash, Brigadier General, USAF, RetiredLakeside , Montana 59922
A Powerful Piece ............................................This is one of the most profound articles that I have ever read about this Presidency, this era, and this so-called war. No matter your politics, you owe it to yourself to read this. An assessment of where the US stands in relation to the Middle East problems, this one is from the guy who had his finger on the nuclear trigger for three years as head of our defense and response complex buried under Cheyenne Mountain at Colorado Springs.He was the only person who could initiate a nuclear attack afte r advising the sitting president of a missile launch by our enemies and our need to respond.No political or civilian type in the US had more knowledge about day to day military actions around the world.Everyone should find quiet time to read this. As far as I am concerned, it is exactly the direction we should go and the consequences of not doing so are well thought out.John R. ( Jack ) Farrington, Major General, USAF (Retired)Middle East Imperative & nbsp; by: James Cash, Brigadier General, USAF, RetiredI wrote recently about the war in Iraq and the larger war against radical Islam, eliciting a number of responses. Let me try and put this conflict in proper perspective.Understand; the current battle we are engaged in is much bigger than just Iraq . What happens in the next year will affect this country and how our kids and grand kids live throughout their lifetime, and beyond. Radical Islam has been attacking the West since the seventh century. They have been defeated in the past and decimated to the point of taking hundreds of years to recover. But they can never be totally defeated. Their birth rates are so far beyond civilized world rates, that in time they recover and attempt to dominate again.There are eight terror-sponsoring countries that make up the grand threat to the West. Two , Saudi Arabia and Pakistan just need firm pressure from the West to make major reforms. They need to decide who they are really going to support and commit to that support.That answer is simple. They both will support who they think will hang in there until the end, and win.We are not sending very good signals in that direction right now, thanks to the Democrats.The other six, Afghanistan , Iraq , Iran , Syria , North Korea and Libya will require regime change or a major policy shift. Now, let's look more closely.Afghanistan and Iraq have both had regime changes, but are being fueled by outsiders from Syria and Iran . We have scared Gaddafi's pants off, and he has given up his quest for nuclear weapons, so I don't think Libya is now a threat.North Korea (the non-Islamic threat) can be handled diplomatically by buying them off. They are starving. That leaves Syria and Iran . Syria is like a frightened puppy. Without the support of Iran they will join the stronger side. So where does that leave us? Sooner, or later, we are going to be forced to confront Iran , and it better be before they gain nuclear capability.In 1989 I served as a Command Director inside the Cheyenne Mountain complex located in Colorado Springs , Colorado for almost three years. My job there was to observe (through classified means) every missile shot anywhere in the world and assess if it was a threat to the US or Canada . If any shot was threatening to either nation I had only minutes to advise the President, as he had only minutes to respond.I watched Iran and Iraq shoot missi les at each other every day, and all day long, for months. They killed hundreds of thousands of their people. Know why? They were fighting for control of the Middle East and that enormous oil supply.At that time, they were preoccupied with their internal problems and could care less about toppling the west. Oil prices were fairly stable and we could not see an immediate threat.Well, the worst part of what we have ;done as a nation in Iraq is to do away with the military capability of one of those nations. Now, Iran has a clear field to dominate the Middle East, since Iraq is no longer a threat to them.They have turned their attention to the only other threat to their dominance, they are convinced they will win, because the US is so divided, and the Democrats (who now control Congress and may contr ol the Presidency in 2008) have openly said we are pulling out.Do you have any idea what will happen if the entire Middle East turns their support to Iran , which they will obviously do if we pull out? It is not the price of oil we will have to worry about. Oil WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE to this country at any price.. I personally would vote for any presidential candidate who did what JFK did with the space program---declare a goal to bring this country to total energy independence in a decade.Yes, it is about oil. The economy in this country will totally die if that Middle East supply is cut off right now. It will not be a recession. It will be a depression that will make 1929 look like the 'good-old-days'. The bottom line here is simple. If Iran is forced to fall in line, the fighting in Iraq will end over night, and the nightmare will be over.One way or another, Iran must be forced to join modern times and the global community. It may mean a real war---if so, now is the time, before we face a nuclear Iran with the capacity to destroy Israel and begin a new ice age.I urge you to read the book 'END GAME' by two of our best Middle East experts, true American patriots and retired military generals, Paul Vallely and Tom McInerney . Th ey are our finest, and totally honest in their assessment of why victory in the Middle East is so important, and how it can be won. Proceeds for the book go directly to memorial fund for our fallen soldiers who served the country during the war on terror. You can find that book by going to the Internet through Stand-up America at.On the other hand, we have several very angry retired generals today, who evidently have not achieved their lofty goals, and insist on ranting and raving about the war. They are wrong, and doing the country great harm by giving a certain political party reason to use them as experts to back their anti-war claims.You may be one of those who believe nothing could ever be terrible enough to support our going to war. If that is the case I should stop here, as that level of thinking approaches mental disability in this day and age. It is right up there with alien abductions and high altitude seeding through government aircraft contrails. I helped produce those contrails for almost 30 years, and I can assure you we were not seeding the atmosphere. The human race is a war-like population, and if a country is not willing to protect itself, it deserves the consequences.'Enough - said!'Now, my last comments will get to the nerve. They will be on politics.I am not a Republican. And, George Bush has made enough mistakes as President to insure my feelings about that for the rest of my life. However, the Democratic Party has moved so far left, they have made me support those farther to the right.I am a conservative who totally supports the Constitution of this country. The only difference between the United States and the South American, third world, dictator infested and ever-changing South American governments, is our US Constitution.This Republic (note I did not say Democracy) is the longest standing the world has ever known, but it is vulnerable. It would take so little to change it through economic upheaval. There was a time when politicians could disagree, but still work together. We are past that time, and that is the initial step toward the downfall of our form of government.I think that many view Bush-hating as payback time. The Republicans hated the Clinton 's and now the Democrats hate Bush.So, both parties are putting their hate toward willingness to do anything for pol itical dominance to include lying and always taking the opposite stand just for the sake of being opposed. JUST HOW GOOD IS THAT FOR OUR COUNTRY?In my lifetime, after serving in uniform for President's Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan , and Bush I have a pretty good feel for which party supported our military, and what military life was like under each of their terms. And, let me assure you that times were best under the Republicans.Service under Jimmy Carter was devastating for all branches of the military. And, Ronald Regan was truly a salvation.You can choose to listen to enriched newscasters, and foolish people like John Murtha (he is no war hero), Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, Harry Reid, Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and on-and-on to include the true fools in Hollywood if you like. If you do, your conclusions will be totally wrong.The reason that I write, appear on radio talk shows, and do everything I can to denounce those people is simple. THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR THIRST FOR POLITICAL POWER AND QUEST FOR VICTORY IN 2008 ABOVE WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS COUNTRY. I cannot abide that.Pelosi clearly defied the Logan Act by going to Syria , which should have lead to imprisonment of three years and a heavy fine.Jane Fonda did more to prolong the Vietnam War than any other human being (as acknowledged by Ho Chi Minh in his writing before he died). She truly should have been indicted for treason, along with her radical husband, Tom Hayden, and forced to pay the consequences.This country has started to soften by not enforcing its laws, which is another indication of a Republic about to fall.All Democrats, along with the Hollywood elite, are sending us headlong into a total defeat in the Middle East, which will finally give Iran total dominance in the region. A lack of oil in the near future will be the final straw that dooms this Republic.However, if we refuse to let this happen and really get serious about an energy self-sufficiency program, this can be avoided. I am afraid, however, that we are going in the opposite direction.If we elect Hillary Clinton and a Democrat controlled congress, and they carry through with allowing Iran to take control of the Middle E ast, continue to refuse development of nuclear energy, refuse to allow drilling for new oil, and continue to do nothing but oppose everything Bush, it will be over in terms of what we view as the good life in the USA.Now, do I think that all who do not support the war are un-American--- of course not. They just do not understand the importance of total victory in that region.Another failure of George Bush is his inability to explain to the American people why we are there, and why we MUST win.By the way, it is not a war. The war was won four years ago. It is martial law that is under attack by Iranian and Syrian outside influences, and there is a difference.So, what do I believe? What is the bottom line? I will simply say that the Democratic Party has fielded the foulest, power hungry, anti-country, self absorbed group of individuals that I have observed in my lifetime. Our educational system is partially to blame for al lowing the mass of America to be taken in by this group. George Bush has done the best he can with the disabilities that he possesses.A President must communicate with the people. And, I would tell you that Desert Storm spoiled the people. Bush Senior's 100-hour war convinced the people that technology has progressed to the point that wars could be fought with no casualties and won in very short periods of time.I remember feeling at the time, that this was a tragedy for the US military. To win wars, you must put boots on the ground. When you put boots on the ground, soldiers are going to die. A President must make the war decision wisely, and insure that the cause is right before using his last political option.HOWEVER, CONTROLLING IRAN AND DEMOCRATIZING THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE ONLY CHOICE IF WE ARE HELL BENT ON DEPENDING ON THEM FOR OUR FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS.
Jimmy L. Cash, Brigadier General, USAF, RetiredLakeside , Montana 59922
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