Schadenfreude

Why are you still here??

2005-01-31T11:03:00.000-06:00

OK, kids, it's official. If you're looking for Schadenfreude, time to update the bookmarks...or blogroll, if you're a really nice person.

The New Schadenfreude

Hope to see you there!

Felten and Felton

Senator Kennedy Calls Forth Satan, Spins Head And Spews Split Pea Soup

2005-01-28T13:52:00.000-06:00

Well, not quite. But he doesn't care too much for my brothers and sisters in uniform, coming just short of blaming us for the insurgency in Iraq.

[...]

Speaking at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in the District, Mr. Kennedy said that U.S. troops and officials are seen by Iraqis as an occupational force, rather than a means to peace, and they are the reason violence is escalating.

"The men and women of our armed services are serving honorably and with great courage under extreme conditions, but their indefinite presence is fanning the flames of conflict," he said. (emphasis mine)

[...]

Thanks, Ted!! You're my favorite drunk!

So let me guess...we're to withdraw our forces from an extremely unstable Iraq, cross our fingers, wish happy thoughts, and believe that the fledgling democracy will NOT fall into civil war and become an Islamic theocracy?

I gotta get some of what you're drinking, Senator. I'll bet it's really, really good.

Beware of Felten

2005-01-28T11:58:00.000-06:00

I guess I know why my nickname is "The Reaper"....

How evil are you?

No News Like Good News

2005-01-28T11:57:00.000-06:00

In keeping with my resolution to report only good news about Iraq, I give you this and this.

As for the latter story, it would seem that at least as far as the Shiites are concerned, the hope of a free Iraq is tangible:

[...]

The U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, John Negroponte, insisted some Sunnis will turn out to vote. "Sunnis don't only live in some of these beleagered provinces, they live here in Baghdad, they live in other parts of the country," Negroponte said on CBS's "The Early Show." "I think you're going to see participation across the board."

Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority is eager to vote, expecting the election to establish their domination of the country after decades of repression. Sunni Arabs, however, may follow calls by some leaders to boycott the vote — or may be intimidated by the violence that has been at its worst in mainly Sunni regions north and west of Baghdad.

Expatriate Iraqis began casting ballots amid tight security in early voting in 14 countries from Australia to Sweden to the United States.

"This is a long dream that now comes true," said 56-year-old Karim Jari before casting his vote in Sydney, Australia, where young children mingled in line with elderly Kurdish women in head-to-toe black robes and men in colorful traditional costumes. "We hope this is a new beginning."

[...]

I am a little envious of excitement regarding elections in Iraq. I wish Americans could still feel they're making a difference in the direction of their country.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Then again, at least we don't have bombings and beheading surrounding our elections. We just have this.

New Website!

2005-01-27T08:27:00.001-06:00

The new site is up and running. If you get a chance, head on out to the all-new Schadenfreude. Don't forget to update your bookmarks!

We will be posting on this site and the new one simultaneously for the next week or two. Just getting all the bugs worked out.

If you know of any nice Movable Type templates, please let me know. I'm using the basic template right now, and it's a little....boring.

Thanks for all the support you've shown Felton and I. We are looking forward to seeing you out on the new site!

Thursday Diversion

2005-01-27T05:20:00.000-06:00

Babe, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Fire Hare strikes fear

2005-01-26T10:38:00.000-06:00

firemenandhare
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

To paraphrase the mother of Mr Howard Hughes; You are not safe, irrespective of what Mr Orwell said.

The Year of the Fire Hare

2005-01-26T08:45:00.000-06:00

A little known non-truth about the Chinese calendar; every 12 years the animal totems take their turn in the box, just like Army units in the Global War On Terror. Here's what you didn't know: Every so many cycles, the little beasties are breveted with the 'fire' identifier. You know, "Fire Horse", "Fire Rat", etcetera. I was born in the year of the Fire Rabbit. I wouldn't have mentioned this, except when I went to check out Nehring The Edge, I peeked at his profile. He lists his Chinese zodiacal affinity. So, there's that. He's a Rooster and I am a Fire Rabbit. You need to go to his site, by the way. He's a clear thinking member of the 4th estate, and he's therefore funny.

Some one stole -en's "Support the Troops" magnet off of his car. I was once accused of stealing a lead rope from a college climbing instructor. Let me tell you why thieving should be avoided. (and every climber knows this) Stolen gear will absolutely wait until you need it, before it fails. The guy that stole the magnet took it from a soldier who has been the willing guarentor of his most essential liberties for 16 years. He has a magnet because he still cares for the soldiers that deploy. He himself has done the 2 Iraq wars plus a ugly little piece in Somalia. He also did his bit as a Sheriff's deputy.

Here's what I hope: Their liberty will fail them when they take it most for granted. They will find themselves in a tight spot, and someone like Dan won't be there. They will grouse about how unfair their life is and wonder "Why is this happening to me?" It will be happening to them because they earned it. They are a criminal, and the enemy of civilization.

Fie on them.

A Little Note

2005-01-26T08:38:00.000-06:00

To the person who stole the "Support Our Troops" magnet off of the back of my car.

It is my fervent hope that there is a very hot place reserved for you when you expire, shake off this mortal coil, run up the curtain, and join the Choir Invisible.

You jerk.

Sympathy For The Devil

2005-01-25T09:58:00.001-06:00

Apparently (if you believe our liberal media), the upcoming elections in Iraq are doomed to failure. What I find truly amazing is the sheer amount of bad press one writer can cram into one story. Let's recap what we just read, kids. Ready??

1. The Hostages. Mr. Roy Hallums (American) and Mr. Robert Tarongoy, a Filipino OSW, were taken captive by insurgent forces in Iraq. The all-important video was broadcasted world-wide (well, Al-Jazeera wide). In the short film, Mr. Hallums is shown with a rifle pointing at his head, pleading with the world-renown humanitarian Moammar Ghadafi to save him. Special praise is heaped upon President Bush, to wit:

[...]

"I'm not asking for any help from President Bush because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who've been pushed into this hellhole."

[...]

Of course, we can probably speculate that this was entirely scripted. The fact that the Philippine Government folded like a house of cards when pressure was applied by the insurgents last year is well known. This fact has not stopped individual Pinoys from moving to the region to work. Life is hard in the Philippines, and meaningful employment is difficult to come by. A Filipino understands that sometimes sacrifices must be made. He (or she) travels to the Middle East to do the jobs no one else wants to, and is paid handsomely for it. This affords the OSW the ability to provide for his family in a way that staying home cannot. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's attempt to stem the "brain drain" from the Philippines is utterly futile. It simply cannot be stopped due to the fact that the island nation is suffering from crippling inflation and a corrupt government. As far as the American is concerned, well...what can you say? He knew the risks. He was chasing a buck and rolled the dice. I don't mean to sound callous, but speaking as someone who's been there a couple of times, it isn't a place I'd voluntarily live/work/die. It is a hellhole, as Mr. Hallums so eloquently put it. People, we are talking about a civilization that peaked 6,000 years ago. Period. It's 20 billion degrees in the shade in August. And that's at 6:00 a.m., my friend.

2. A PSYOP campaign is underway by the insurgents. They are working on a leaflet dissemination, with the target audience being Sunni Arabs who dare display the temerity to show up at the polls:

[...]

"Many Sunni Arabs are expected to boycott the elections, either to express opposition to the process or for fear of reprisals.

On Tuesday, militants handed out flyers in Baghdad promising that rebels would wash the streets with the blood of voters and shower polling stations with bombs, mortar fire and rockets.

The leaflets, which didn't bear the name of any militant group, warned that "those who dare to stand in the lines of death to participate in the elections will be responsible for the consequences that will be heavy."

"He will not be able to imagine what will happen to him and his family for taking part in this crusaders' conspiracy to occupy the land of Islam," the flyers said."

[...]

I love the verbiage. "Many Sunni Arabs are expected to boycott the elections...". You absolutely have to respect the AP. I don't like it, but they sure know how to plant a Jedi Mind Trick.

OK, here's the deal. If the Iraqi's want a future, they have to be active participants. Sorry, but you don't get to sit this one out. It's your childrens' future. How do you want them to live? Like you? You get American, European, heck, Arab television stations. You see how we live. There are nations out there which actively work to better the lives of their citizens. Here's your chance. I'm sick of hearing "Well, they only know hardship, suffering, torture, et.al". So? It's their problem, they need to fix it. We've done the work of getting rid of the dictator. What path they take is up to them. I don't hold much hope. I'm guessing 6-12 months after the elections, civil war quickly followed by an Islamic Republic.

3. Human rights abuses. Duh. There's a no-brainer. Do you think it might be possible that some of the Iraqi police officers were abused under the Saddam regime? Perhaps they are thinking a little payback's in order? Way to go, "Human Rights Watch". When you're done in Iraq, stop over here, the good 'ol USA. Apparently there's a Senator who desperately needs your attention. The U.N. didn't quite make it out here to monitor the election, so you've got some catch-up to do.

4. Attacks, attacks, attacks. The insurgents are really ramping up the attacks in preparation for the elections. We all know the reason for this. Once (we hope) the elections are conducted and the new representatives and government are sworn in, the Al Sadr's of Iraq will not have an audience. Their brand of terrorism is derived from the ability to drive a wedge between the Iraqi people and the Coalition forces. This will evaporate in the face of a representative government. It is VITAL to the future of Iraq that these elections are held and supported world-wide.

Now, what is going on with the AP and other news agencies? I know the theory regarding bad news and headlines. The opening of a new school or the construction of a new hospital will never make the front page. Good news has no legs. I think I'm going to start looking for the good things happening in Iraq and report them here. I'll leave the death and destruction for the "established press".

Ah, Crap.

2005-01-24T09:15:00.000-06:00

I knew I was a geek, but this is bad.

So Long...

2005-01-24T08:08:00.000-06:00

johnnycarson, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

to the last class act in Hollywood. You'll be missed, sir.

The Fourth Estate

2005-01-21T08:51:00.000-06:00

An old friend of Felton and myself sent this article. I apologise in advance for the length of the piece, but it's worth it.

Get yourself a cup of coffee and settle in.

- Felten

Below an essay by Lieutenant Colonel Tim Ryan - a Task Force (Battalion +) Commander in Iraq - who has some words about the Fourth Estate:

Aiding and Abetting the Enemy: the Media in Iraq
By LTC Tim Ryan, CO, 2/12 Cav, 1st Cav Div

What if domestic news outlets continually fed American readers headlines like: "Bloody Week on U.S. Highways: Some 700 Killed," or "More Than 900 Americans Die Weekly from Obesity-Related Diseases"? Both of these headlines might be true statistically, but do they really represent accurate pictures of the situations? What if you combined all of the negatives to be found in the state of Texas and used them as an indicator of the quality of life for all Texans? Imagine the headlines: "Anti-law Enforcement Elements Spread Robbery, Rape and Murder through Texas Cities." For all intents and purposes, this statement is true for any day of any year in any state. True -- yes, accurate -- yes, but in context with the greater good taking place -- no! After a year or two of headlines like these, more than a few folks back in Texas and the rest of the U.S. probably would be ready to jump off of a building and end it all. So, imagine being an American in Iraq right now.

I just read yet another distorted and grossly exaggerated story from a major news organization about the "failures" in the war in Iraq. Print and video journalists are covering only a small fraction of the events in Iraq and more often than not, the events they cover are only the bad ones. Many of the journalists making public assessments about the progress of the war in Iraq are unqualified to do so, given their training and experience. The inaccurate picture they paint has distorted the world view of the daily realities in Iraq. The result is a further erosion of international public support for the United States' efforts there, and a strengthening of the insurgents' resolve and recruiting efforts while weakening our own. Through their incomplete, uninformed and unbalanced reporting, many members of the media covering the war in Iraq are aiding and abetting the enemy.

The fact is the Coalition is making steady progress in Iraq, but not without ups and downs. War is a terrible thing and terrible things happen during wars, even when you are winning. In war, as in any contest of wills with capable opponents, things do not always go as planned; the guys with the white hats don't always come out on top in each engagement. That doesn't mean you are losing. Sure, there are some high profile and very spectacular enemy attacks taking place in Iraq these days, but the great majority of what is happening in Iraq is positive. So why is it that no matter what events unfold, good or bad, the media highlight mostly the negative aspects of the event? The journalistic adage, "If it bleeds, it leads," still applies in Iraq, but why only when it's American blood?

As a recent example, the operation in Fallujah delivered an absolutely devastating blow to the insurgency. Though much smaller in scope, clearing Fallujah of insurgents arguably could equate to the Allies' breakout from the hedgerows in France during World War II. In both cases, our troops overcame a well-prepared and solidly entrenched enemy and began what could be the latter's last stand. In Fallujah, the enemy death toll has already exceeded 1,500 and still is climbing. Put one in the win column for the good guys, right? Wrong. As soon as there was nothing negative to report about Fallujah, the media shifted its focus to other parts of the country. Just yesterday, a major news agency's website lead read: "Suicide Bomber Kills Six in Baghdad" and "Seven Marines Die in Iraq Clashes." True, yes. Comprehensive, no. Did the author of this article bother to mention that Coalition troops killed 50 or so terrorists while incurring those seven losses? Of course not. Nor was there any mention about the substantial progress these offensive operations continue to achieve in defeating the insurgents.

Unfortunately, this sort of incomplete reporting has become the norm for the media, whose poor job of presenting a complete picture of what is going on in Iraq borders on being criminal.
Much of the problem is about perspective, putting things in scale and balance. From where I sit in my command post at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, things are not all bad right now. In fact, they are going quite well. We are not under attack by the enemy; on the contrary, we are taking the fight to him daily and have him on the ropes. In the distance, I can hear the repeated impacts of heavy artillery and five hundred-pound bombs hitting their targets in the city. The occasional tank main gun report and the staccato rhythm of a Marine Corps LAV or Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle's 25-millimeter cannon provide the bass line for a symphony of destruction. Right now, as elements from all four services complete the absolute annihilation of the insurgent forces remaining in Fallujah, the area around the former stronghold is more peaceful than it has been for more than a year. The number of attacks in the greater Al Anbar Province is down by at least 70-80% from late October -- before Operation Al Fajar began. The enemy in this area is completely defeated, but not completely gone. Final eradication of the pockets of insurgents will take some time, as it always does, but the fact remains that the central geographic stronghold of the insurgents is now under friendly control. That sounds a lot like success to me. Given all of this, why don't the papers lead with "Coalition Crushes Remaining Pockets of Insurgents" or "Enemy Forces Resort to Suicide Bombings of Civilians"? This would paint a far more accurate picture of the enemy's predicament over here. Instead, headlines focus almost exclusively on our hardships.

What about the media's portrayal of the enemy? Why do these ruthless murderers, kidnappers and thieves get a pass when it comes to their actions? What did the media not show or tell us about Margaret Hassoon, the director of C.A.R.E. in Iraq and an Iraqi citizen, who was kidnapped, brutally tortured and left disemboweled in streets of Fallujah? Did anyone in the press show these images over and over to emphasize the moral failings of the enemy as they did with the soldiers at Abu Ghuraib? Did anyone show the world how this enemy had huge stockpiles of weapons in schools and mosques, or how he used these protected places as sanctuaries for planning and fighting in Fallujah and the rest of Iraq? Are people of the world getting the complete story? The answer again is no! What the world got instead were repeated images of a battle-weary Marine who made a quick decision to use lethal force and who now is being tried in the world press. Is this one act really illustrative of the overall action in Fallujah? No, but the Marine video clip was shown an average of four times each hour on just about every major TV news channel for a week. This is how the world views our efforts over here and stories like this without a counter continually serve as propaganda victories for the enemy. Al Jazeera isn't showing the film of the CARE worker, but is showing the clip of the Marine. Earlier this year, the Iraqi government banned Al Jazeera from the country for its inaccurate reporting. Wonder where they get their information now? Well, if you go to the Internet, you'll find a web link from the Al Jazeera home page to CNN's home page. Very interesting.

The operation in Fallujah is only one of the recent examples of incomplete coverage of the events in Iraq. The battle in Najaf last August provides another. Television and newspapers spilled a continuous stream of images and stories about the destruction done to the sacred city, and of all the human suffering allegedly brought about by the hands of the big, bad Americans. These stories and the lack of anything to counter them gave more fuel to the fire of anti-Americanism that burns in this part of the world. Those on the outside saw the Coalition portrayed as invaders or oppressors, killing hapless Iraqis who, one was given to believe, simply were trying to defend their homes and their Muslim way of life.

Reality couldn't have been farther from the truth. What noticeably was missing were accounts of the atrocities committed by the Mehdi Militia -- Muqtada Al Sadr's band of henchmen. While the media was busy bashing the Coalition, Muqtada's boys were kidnapping policemen, city council members and anyone else accused of supporting the Coalition or the new government, trying them in a kangaroo court based on Islamic Shari'a law, then brutally torturing and executing them for their "crimes." What the media didn't show or write about were the two hundred-plus headless bodies found in the main mosque there, or the body that was put into a bread oven and baked. Nor did they show the world the hundreds of thousands of mortar, artillery and small arms rounds found within the "sacred" walls of the mosque. Also missing from the coverage was the huge cache of weapons found in Muqtada's "political" headquarters nearby. No, none of this made it to the screen or to print. All anyone showed were the few chipped tiles on the dome of the mosque and discussion centered on how we, the Coalition, had somehow done wrong. Score another one for the enemy's propaganda machine.
Now, compare the Najaf example to the coverage and debate ad nauseam of the Abu Ghuraib Prison affair. There certainly is no justification for what a dozen or so soldiers did there, but unbalanced reporting led the world to believe that the actions of the dozen were representative of the entire military. This has had an incredibly negative effect on Middle Easterners' already sagging opinion of the U.S. and its military. Did anyone show the world images of the 200 who were beheaded and mutilated in Muqtada's Shari'a Law court, or spend the next six months talking about how horrible all of that was? No, of course not. Most people don't know that these atrocities happened. It's little wonder that many people here want us out and would vote someone like Muqtada Al Sadr into office given the chance -- they never see the whole truth. Strange, when the enemy is the instigator the media does not flash images across the screens of televisions in the Middle East as they did with Abu Ghuraib. Is it because the beheaded bodies might offend someone? If so, then why do we continue see photos of the naked human pyramid over and over?

So, why doesn't the military get more involved in showing the media the other side of the story? The answer is they do. Although some outfits are better than others, the Army and other military organizations today understand the importance of getting out the story -- the whole story -- and trains leaders to talk to the press. There is a saying about media and the military that goes: "The only way the media is going to tell a good story is if you give them one to tell." This doesn't always work as planned. Recently, when a Coalition spokesman tried to let TV networks in on opening moves in the Fallujah operation, they misconstrued the events for something they were not and then blamed the military for their gullibility. CNN recently aired a "special report" in which the cable network accused the military of lying to it and others about the beginning of the Fallujah operation. The incident referred to took place in October when a Marine public affairs officer called media representatives and told them that an operation was about to begin. Reporters rushed to the outskirts of Fallujah to see what they assumed was going to be the beginning of the main attack on the city. As it turned out, what they saw were tactical "feints" designed to confuse the enemy about the timing of the main attack, then planned to take place weeks later.

Once the network realized that major combat operations wouldn't start for several more weeks, CNN alleged that the Marines had used them as a tool for their deception operation. Now, they say they want answers from the military and the administration on the matter. The reality appears to be that in their zeal to scoop their competition, CNN and others took the information they were given and turned it into what they wanted it to be. Did the military lie to the media: no. It is specifically against regulations to provide misinformation to the press. However, did the military planners anticipate that reporters would take the ball and run with it, adding to the overall deception plan? Possibly. Is that unprecedented or illegal? Of course not.

CNN and others say they were duped by the military in this and other cases. Yet, they never seem to be upset by the undeniable fact that the enemy manipulates them with a cunning that is almost worthy of envy. You can bet that terrorist leader Abu Musab Al Zarqarwi has his own version of a public affairs officer and it is evident that he uses him to great effect. Each time Zarquari's group executes a terrorist act such as a beheading or a car bomb, they have a prepared statement ready to post on their website and feed to the press. Over-eager reporters take the bait, hook, line and sinker, and report it just as they got it.

Did it ever occur to the media that this type of notoriety is just what the terrorists want and need? Every headline they grab is a victory for them. Those who have read the ancient Chinese military theorist and army general Sun Tsu will recall the philosophy of "Kill one, scare ten thousand" as the basic theory behind the strategy of terrorism. Through fear, the terrorist can then manipulate the behavior of the masses. The media allows the terrorist to use relatively small but spectacular events that directly affect very few, and spread them around the world to scare millions. What about the thousands of things that go right every day and are never reported? Complete a multi-million-dollar sewer project and no one wants to cover it, but let one car bomb go off and it makes headlines. With each headline, the enemy scores another point and the good-guys lose one. This method of scoring slowly is eroding domestic and international support while fueling the enemy's cause.

I believe one of the reasons for this shallow and subjective reporting is that many reporters never actually cover the events they report on. This is a point of growing concern within the Coalition. It appears many members of the media are hesitant to venture beyond the relative safety of the so-called "International Zone" in downtown Baghdad, or similar "safe havens" in other large cities. Because terrorists and other thugs wisely target western media members and others for kidnappings or attacks, the westerners stay close to their quarters. This has the effect of holding the media captive in cities and keeps them away from the broader truth that lies outside their view. With the press thus cornered, the terrorists easily feed their unwitting captives a thin gruel of anarchy, one spoonful each day. A car bomb at the entry point to the International Zone one day, a few mortars the next, maybe a kidnapping or two thrown in. All delivered to the doorsteps of those who will gladly accept it without having to leave their hotel rooms -- how convenient.

The scene is repeated all too often: an attack takes place in Baghdad and the morning sounds are punctuated by a large explosion and a rising cloud of smoke. Sirens wail in the distance and photographers dash to the scene a few miles away. Within the hour, stern-faced reporters confidently stare into the camera while standing on the balcony of their tenth-floor Baghdad hotel room, their back to the city and a distant smoke plume rising behind them. More mayhem in Gotham City they intone, and just in time for the morning news. There is a transparent reason why the majority of car bombings and other major events take place before noon Baghdad-time; any later and the event would miss the start of the morning news cycle on the U.S. east coast. These terrorists aren't stupid; they know just what to do to scare the masses and when to do it. An important key to their plan is manipulation of the news media. But, at least the reporters in Iraq are gathering information and filing their stories, regardless of whether or the stories are in perspective. Much worse are the "talking heads" who sit in studios or offices back home and pontificate about how badly things are going when they never have been to Iraq and only occasionally leave Manhattan.

Almost on a daily basis, newspapers, periodicals and airwaves give us negative views about the premises for this war and its progress. It seems that everyone from politicians to pop stars are voicing their unqualified opinions on how things are going. Recently, I saw a Rolling Stone magazine and in bold print on the cover was, "Iraq on Fire; Dispatches from the Lost War." Now, will someone please tell me who at Rolling Stone or just about any other "news" outlet is qualified to make a determination as to when all is lost and it's time to throw in the towel? In reality, such flawed reporting serves only to misshape world opinion and bolster the enemy's position. Each enemy success splashed across the front pages and TV screens of the world not only emboldens them, but increases their ability to recruit more money and followers.So what are the credentials of these self proclaimed "experts"? The fact is that most of those on whom we rely for complete and factual accounts have little or no experience or education in counter-insurgency operations or in nation-building to support their assessments. How would they really know if things are going well or not? War is an ugly thing with many unexpected twists and turns. Who among them is qualified to say if this one is worse than any other at this point? What would they have said in early 1942 about our chances of winning World War II? Was it a lost cause too? How much have these "experts" studied warfare and counter-insurgencies in particular? Have they ever read Roger Trinquier's treatise Modern Warfare: A French View on Counter-insurgency (1956)? He is one of the few French military guys who got it right. The Algerian insurgency of the 1950s and the Iraq insurgency have many similarities. What about Napoleon's campaigns in Sardinia in 1805-07? Again, there are a lot of similarities to this campaign. Have they studied that and contrasted the strategies? Or, have they even read Mao Zedung's theories on insurgencies, or Nygen Giap's, or maybe Che' Gueverra's? Have they seen any of Sun Zsu's work lately? Who are these guys? It's time to start studying, folks. If a journalist doesn't recognize the names on this list, he or she probably isn't qualified to assess the state of this or any other campaign's progress.

Worse yet, why in the world would they seek opinion from someone who probably knows even less than they do about the state of affairs in Iraq? It sells commercials, I suppose. But, I find it amazing that some people are more apt to listen to a movie star's or rock singer's view on how we should prosecute world affairs than to someone whose profession it is to know how these things should go. I play the guitar, but Bruce Springsteen doesn't listen to me play. Why should I be subjected to his views on the validity of the war? By profession, he's a guitar player. Someone remind me what it is that makes Sean Penn an expert on anything. It seems that anyone who has a dissenting view is first to get in front of the camera. I'm all for freedom of speech, but let's talk about things we know. Otherwise, television news soon could have about as much credibility as "The Batchelor" has for showing us truly loving couples.

Also bothersome are references by "experts" on how "long" this war is taking. I've read that in the world of manufacturing, you can have only two of the following three qualities when developing a product -- cheap, fast or good. You can produce something cheap and fast, but it won't be good; good and fast, but it won't be cheap; good and cheap, but it won't be fast. In this case, we want the result to be good and we want it at the lowest cost in human lives. Given this set of conditions, one can expect this war is to take a while, and rightfully so. Creating a democracy in Iraq not only will require a change in the political system, but the economic system as well. Study of examples of similar socio-economic changes that took place in countries like Chile, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia and other countries with oppressive Socialist dictatorships shows that it took seven to ten years to move those countries to where they are now. There are many lessons to be learned from these transformations, the most important of which is that change doesn't come easily, even without an insurgency going on. Maybe the experts should take a look at all of the work that has gone into stabilizing Bosnia-Herzegovina over the last 10 years. We are just at the eighteen-month mark in Iraq, a place far more oppressive than Bosnia ever was. If previous examples are any comparison, there will be no quick solutions here, but that should be no surprise to an analyst who has done his or her homework.

This war is not without its tragedies; none ever are. The key to the enemy's success is use of his limited assets to gain the greatest influence over the masses. The media serves as the glass through which a relatively small event can be magnified to international proportions, and the enemy is exploiting this with incredible ease. There is no good news to counteract the bad, so the enemy scores a victory almost every day. In its zeal to get to the hot spots and report the latest bombing, the media is missing the reality of a greater good going on in Iraq. We seldom are seen doing anything right or positive in the news. People believe what they see, and what people of the world see almost on a daily basis is negative. How could they see it any other way? These images and stories, out of scale and context to the greater good going on over here, are just the sort of thing the terrorists are looking for. This focus on the enemy's successes strengthens his resolve and aids and abets his cause. It's the American image abroad that suffers in the end.
Ironically, the press freedom that we have brought to this part of the world is providing support for the enemy we fight. I obviously think it's a disgrace when many on whom the world relies for news paint such an incomplete picture of what actually has happened. Much too much is ignored or omitted. I am confident that history will prove our cause right in this war, but by the time that happens, the world might be so steeped in the gloom of ignorance we won't recognize victory when we achieve it.

[Thanks to Amy K. - whose husband is a Marine Officer in Iraq - for sending the essay by LTC Ryan]

A Personal Message...

2005-01-20T11:42:00.000-06:00

heyjfkerry, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

for all of the people protesting the inauguration.

Hook up!

2005-01-20T09:24:00.000-06:00

Hook up!
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

When I get to heaven,St Peter's gonna say "How'd you earn your living? How'd you earn your pay?"...

Slacktivism

2005-01-20T08:57:00.000-06:00

It seems that some people just can’t let go. Here it is, 20 January 2005. We are inaugurating our President. Our duly-elected President. Protests are being planned throughout the country. Here in the Twin Cities, frantic activity by our local Liberals could be observed as early as 6 a.m. today.

Driving to work, I take I 35W North to Arden Hills because I drop my wife off at her place of employment in Minneapolis. The overpasses on the way were festooned with such well thought-out tidbits like “Bush Lies, Soldiers Die”.

Watch out, Hallmark. You’ve got competition.

Here’s a novel idea. Let’s get over it. Time to move on. What is there to protest?

“He’s not MY President!” Actually, he is. As a citizen of the US, he is your president. Learn how to deal.

“I didn’t vote for him!” So? See above.

And my favorite little tidbit of the day. This one is from John Kerry (via Capmag.com):

[…]

"Don't tell us that the strongest democracy on earth," said Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in a recent speech for the NAACP, "that a million disenfranchised African-Americans and the most tainted election in American history is the best that we can do. Don't tell us that we already see the purging taking place down in Florida. Don't tell us we don't have a right to expect an election in the United States that sets an example of democracy to the world. We can do better, and we will." A million disenfranchised African-Americans?

[…]

I love this country. Where else can you get anything you want (within reason), are free from religious, ethnic, and political persecution, aren’t hauled out of your bed in the middle of the night by the secret police and made to disappear….

And you still bitch about what a horrible place this is.

Don’t like it? Move to North Korea.

Foolish Presumptions

2005-01-20T06:35:00.000-06:00

Mrs -on is rolling her eyes.

The people who crunch the big corporate numbers are projecting a strong week for this corporation that I support. This has been a year of ups and downs for them, but this week they are poised to compete with their big rival across the river for an annual contract. I have no financial interest in the prosperity of this company, other than the $50 that marks my bet with my babysitter's dad. He thinks the other guys will prevail. I went to their website, and ordered some stuff with the company logo; a leather jacket, a hat, a sticker for my truck. The employees are some of the best compensated in the business and that's why I think we have such good prospects. Sometimes I think that I have more company loyalty than they do, but they were hired for their abilities rather than than their attitudes. I was at the mall last weekend and I found some halloween face-paint stuff on clearance. I want to draw the company logo on my childrens' faces and this is why Mrs -on is in dissent. Does this seem foolish to you? It should; it's supposed to illustrate a point.

But seriously folks... I moved across the river from Minnesota to Wisconsin last year, a move of 5 miles. People now presume that I am a fan of the NFL's Green Bay Packer team. Forget for a moment that Hudson, Wisconsin is really a suburb of St Paul, MN. Why would I be involved in professional athletics? I know that members of a losing franchise are earning in excess of 100 million dollars a year to 'represent their fans'. This money comes from gate revenues, advertisers and sales of merchandise among other things. I once sat in a breakroom at Northwest Airlines where 25 people huddled, breathless over a tiny black and white television with awful reception. While the airplanes and their passengers waited for "technical delays" the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings battled over the final points of the game. I only remember that Green Bay won because I made the the comment that "A lot of farm animals are going to be treated like women and women treated like farm animals in Wisconsin tonight." I went outside and stood in the snow where it was warmer, because if looks could have killed, you wouldn't be troubled by my poison pen today.

I have good "situational awareness". I notice what is going on around me and I try to understand what I am looking at. Here's a question you could ask yourself: How much money did I pay for my last car? By chance, are you one of those people with a picture of a little cartoon boy urinating on the corporate logo of the competitor? Do you have a window sticker that lets me know what company your car is manufactured by? If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes', how much were you compensated to advertise for this corporation? Did they give you more money on your last trade-in because you are a loyal customer? "Let's see, he has a Chevy tattoo on his arm...that's $100 dollars off...His cartoon boy is pissing on 2 competitor logos... $150 each..The $25 ball cap for the Wisconsin team is clean...another $10..." My fertile imagination can conjure up this scene, but I don't think it happened.

My post yesterday mentioned the NFL and NBA. What does it cost us to support these business ventures? Minnesota teams have long complained that they don't have good fans. I thought about that and realized that it's because there is so much to do outside, in Minnesota, that people won't sit in front of a TV for their weekly athlete worship. Still, if I buy a beer downtown, I am paying extra for a stadium that the teams whine about. Don't get me wrong...I used to enjoy football when Bud Grant was the coach, and the Vikes played outside in the winter. Minnesota was not even my favorite team, Oakland was. I used to believe in baseball too. I once got beaned by a line-drive foul off the bat of Cecil Fielder in Tiger Stadium. He came up to make sure I was O.K., and I even got my beer replaced. This was before the player strikes of the 90's. In financial terms, a major league franchise can be a money making addition to the economy. It is negligible though, when the expected terms of the team involve outlays for new stadiums. We lost the North Stars hockey team a number of years ago, and Minnesota didn't flinch. There was never a NHL game that came close to the excitement of the Minnesota State High School Boy's Hockey Tournament. See Ya. Then we got the Wild, except this year there's no NHL...so...

Good people, you presume too much. Living in Minnesota did not make me like Wellstone or ever vote DFL. Dan's wife is not a liberal either just because she's Filipino and her skin is not pasty white. The American Civil Liberties Union is evil, Affirmative Action is an insidious racist policy and the main design of Islam is to compel the world to submit to them. Cutting Joel off in traffic could get you corpsed-up. I should not be so predictable and neither should you.

Support your high school hockey team. Go to your local high school football games and bring your family. Cheer when they display good sportsmanship. Check out the high school drama department; these kids put on a pretty good show for next to nothing, and the parking is free. You might even get to know your neighbor.... and then maybe you can borrow his John Deere...

Thursday Diversion

2005-01-20T03:22:00.000-06:00

8897, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

The lovely Satomi Yoshida.

The Big 1K!

2005-01-19T09:30:00.002-06:00

Hey, check out the numbers! Felten and Felton hit the big 1,000 mark! Thanks to everyone who reads our diatribes. A special thanks for those who return.

Schadenfreude is in for a major overhaul. Blogger has been great, but it simply has its limitations. I will be migrating this blog to another server soon, hopefully within the next couple of weeks. I'll keep you posted on the changes.

Thanks again to everyone for sticking with us. We hope to keep you entertained for years to come.

Political Argument

2005-01-19T08:43:00.000-06:00

What happened to the ability to argue your point of view without being offended by the opposition? I went out last night to a local pub with two of my oldest and dearest friends. One I went to high school with; the other I've known for years. Both happen to be Liberals. Not the bleeding-heart variety, but Liberals who can argue their point of view effectively and listen to mine without becoming offended or defensive.

To my friends: thanks for the discussion last night. Next time, first round's on me.

The ability to engage your audience, to grab and hold their attention is paramount to a solid argument. You also have to be frank. Honesty cannot be overlooked.

Now, if three old friends can sit around and shoot the political breeze honestly and openly, why can't our politicians?

Making Americans angry

2005-01-19T06:31:00.000-06:00

I can't help it; I make people angry.

Each day we, as Americans, are bombarded with accounts of assaults and killings. We're a scant 3 weeks into the new year and stories of shootings in Minneapolis share the news with bombings in Iraq. Here's the thing; I just can't get excited about Mohamedans killing each other any more than I do by the stories about urban gang drive-by murders. If the mayor of Minneapolis really wanted to bring an end to gang violence, he would. If the neighborhoods wanted to clean themselves up, they would. When a society elevates athletes and other entertainers to idol status, the children will model themselves after them. When these role models are pimps and thugs, the children will be pimpish and thuggish. I used to deliver the mail to 55411 and 55412, The Lowery Street station in North Minneapolis. (This is the neighborhood where a Minnesota State Trooper was arrested a few years back for dealing in crack cocaine.) There were a few nice houses there, but by and large it was a toilet. The locals acted like victims of the government, and the result was social paralysis. They were unwilling to do anything for themselves that would help change their neighborhood into a safer place, much less a desirable place.

The reason for their indolence was, and is the lack of good righteous anger. Government will be mobilized in the face of rational anger. Bullies and punks will melt away when confronted by unified anger. But, alas, we are a couch-bound society. Our cars rust in the street and our kids drift, while we retreat into the vicarious delights of television. We have criminalized the natural response to wrong behavior, which is corrective action. America has outlawed anger in a misguided passion to avoid conflict and, of course, this has affected our national identity, to whit;

California's Barbara Boxer was grilling Condoleeza Rice, during her Senate confimation hearings yesterday. (Condi wants to be U.S. Secretary of State.) Boxer is against the war in Iraq, and wants someone to tell her when it will be over. Any person of even mild intelligence understands that this is not a single scope issue, but then Ms. Boxer is a California liberal politician, so... She is whining to Condi about the administration and the war. Condoleeza Rice, through tears and a tissue asks Boxer not to impugn her character. Excuse me? Tears? There's no crying in baseball! I like Condi, but I am a bit perplexed that our best candidate for the office of U.S. Secretary of State, would cry in front of our own Senate. How will that play in Palestine, do you suppose? I hope that it was craft, designed to re-direct the dull Ms. Boxer and her liberal colleagues from the hunt, but I rather imagine that it is instead a new low tide mark for U.S. politics.

Which brings me back to the bombings in Iraq. I was there in 1992, and again in 2003. I liked the Iraqis that I met, but it seems to me that their problem is a parallel of our urban crime blight; the right people are killing each other. A bomb goes off and kills some Mohamedans who then rally their own set and do a drive-by of the other gangs' mosque, shooting, bombing and killing. Meanwhile, Iraqi citizens are lining up to register for the election. The Iraqis that brave the violence are resolute and angry. They realize that the murder is institutional to the manner of governance that has been the problem in Arab society wherein one strong chieftan gets to decide who will get wed, bred or dead. Islam is the 7th century equivalent of our urban gangs, supporting and supported by ignorant oppressed people, hiding behind their curtain and watching the violence unfold on the street. Elections in the middle east; who would have believed it? T.E. Lawrence, who understood that the 1900's would be a period influenced by the Islamist aims to saturate Arabia and eliminate the presence of the Turk and the Englishman, would laugh. There was a kind of stark absolute that ruled the lives of Arabs then, driven by the harsh realities of desert life. Desolation is a useful tool for training the faithful, after all. In the 1990's the Arabs living in the metropolitan areas are referred to as "The powdered milk and french fry people" by the bedoin. They still have their Allah, and sex with boys, but now they have TV and Ferraris too. It is only a matter of time until they buy some NFL and NBA teams to replace the idols of their children with some real infidels, even if the result is still brutish and pimpish thugs.

Is That A Gun In Your Pocket, Or Are You Happy To See Me?

2005-01-18T13:26:00.000-06:00

Thank God cooler heads prevailed. Apparently, this is how the Clinton Administration chose to spend your tax dollars.

Via the Marmot.

Rice Sidesteps Nothing

2005-01-18T11:55:00.000-06:00

I just love how the liberal media enjoy their little word games. Ms. Rices' confirmation by the Senate is underway and some people still don't get the fact that we are in a war. Granted, a Low Intensity Conflict, but still a war.

Whether you agree with the Iraq War or not, it has happened. Like it or not we are in this for the long haul. We made a commitment to the people of Iraq. We will not just cut and run because people are being killed. People die in combat (and in post-combat actions). This "timetable" everyone keeps talking about is a pipe dream. We will not leave because things are uncomfortable. We will leave Iraq when it is timely and safe to do so. Iraq is simply not stable enough. The second the U.S. steps out, destabilizing forces, both interior and exterior, will move in. Nature abhors a vacuum. We all know this. Why is everyone acting like we can just up and leave?

Yes, there was no exit strategy. Has anyone considered that our government may have known that we would be there for a long, long time? You can't plan your way out until you finish what you started. We packed for a long stay. Think Bosnia and Herzegovina.

***UPDATE***
Since I posted this, MSN changed the title of the article from "Rice Sidesteps Timetable" to "Rice, Kerry duel over Iraq strategy: Nominee links departure to nation's self-defense capability"

Hmmmm....

Speak To Your Own Conscience, Ted

2005-01-13T15:48:00.000-06:00

kennedy
Originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

The good friend of Mary Jo Kopechne had some interesting things to say yesterday.

I know that Dems are pro-choice. Ted seems to be kinda wishy-washy on the subject. While giving the nod to his party regarding a woman's right to choose, he stated that "we are a better society when abortions are rare." Which is fine, if you can't decide whether it's better to kill a baby or spare a murderer.

Apparently, according to the AP, "Some pundits have called for the party to get back to its liberal roots and take back the moral high ground, where the GOP has successfully gained traction."

Moral high ground?? Great Zeus, what are you on about?

When have the Democrats EVER held the moral high ground? Pro gay? Pro choice?

Whose morality are we talking about? Someone clue me in here.

Thursday Diversion

2005-01-13T05:37:00.000-06:00

15798, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

The results of the poll were....inconclusive. Therefore, it is my prerogative to reinstate the Diversion.

Take that.

Too Funny

2005-01-12T13:06:00.000-06:00

I can't believe I haven't seen this site before. Check out Opinions You Should Have.

It's Not Nice To Fool With Mother Nature

2005-01-11T08:05:00.000-06:00

California has just been hammered by torrential rains. It looks like one more day of the wet stuff, then a respite.

Mudslides have killed three in So Cal. The last year has just been murder as far as weather is concerned. What's going on? Is it me, or has it been abnormally cruel these last 12 months?

First Florida. How many hurricanes? 6? 7?

After the 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami in Asia got the world's attention. Those rich, selfish Americans aren't giving enough money. "Stingy" was the epithet of the day.

I didn't see the U.N. sending money to Florida. Did you?

My favorite hot dog vendor and his son got into a little hot water regarding oil, food, Cotecna, and Iraq. Guess he was preoccupied. Couldn't be bothered.

Maybe Messrs Annan could donate some of the money they made propping up the Saddam regime. Wouldn't that be nice?

I'm sure California, Florida, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, et al would be grateful. Especially Indonesia, as they are quite picky these days regarding sources of aid. Just knowing that the money passed through the hands of Saddam and Sons, Ltd. should be enough.

A Poll

2005-01-11T08:01:00.000-06:00

I've had mixed reviews regarding the Thursday Diversion. Some people absolutely love it; some hate it. Some like what I put up, some want a change. Some want more skin. Too bad on that part. I'm not going there.

So, I leave it to you. I would like to know what the reader thinks. Is it time to kill the Diversion, change the scope, or continue?

Let me know. Fire away.

Interesting Goings-On

2005-01-10T13:27:00.000-06:00

Indonesia has decided that dirty, filthy Zionist money and food isn't welcome in their beautiful Muslim paradise. With estimates of up to 94,000 people killed, no infrastructure to support an internal aid package and the civil war back underway, Indonesia should put such petty things like who's God has the stronger Kung Fu on the back burner.

Not so for Thailand and Sri Lanka. They are more than happy to receive any aid they can get. But they don't have the whole Muslim "we-hate-everyone-who-don't-pray-like-us" attitude.

Abbas was elected in a landslide in Palestine. I guess we'll see what happens now. Israel claims that this is a radical Muslim they can work with. At least the Israeli government is dismantling the settlements...or is making noises about doing so. Is it possible that this conflict could actually be resolved in our lifetimes?

Don't hold your breath. Hamas won't have anything to do. When all you know is hatred, all you teach your children is anger and resentment, it's not likely. Hard to believe Northern Ireland could calm down, but it did. I don't hold the same hope for the Middle East.

Let's Play Catch-Up

2005-01-07T09:28:00.000-06:00

I must humbly apologize, gentle reader, for my horrible lack of....umph. After the holidays concluded, I've had a difficult time finding my muse. Must be some general malaise that affects the writing world after the holidays. That or a self-induced food coma.

I have been waiting for word on my impending move. I'm not sure what the hold-up is. Here's the deal:

I graduated from school on 17 December. I was told that our background investigations are not completed. We have to wait for the results before we can be assigned as recruiters. So, we were to return to our old units of assignment (which I did).

Last week, I received an email from the US Army Recruiting Command stating that I was to report to a local recruiting station on Monday, 10 January (my birthday, incidentally). I contacted the station and spoke to the guy in charge there. We worked out a reporting time and I was all set to go. Even had a farewell lunch at work on Wednesday.

Yesterday, around 2:30, I got word (from FeltOn), that I was NOT to report to the station; in fact, I was to get my happy behind back to work today. Apparently, USASOC (US Army Special Operations Command) put the old kabosh on that little scheme by the Recruiting Command. No one in the Army can move on an email. I am to wait until I get orders before I go anywhere.

Another interesting thing about that email is that I am to be locally reassigned. Which means no California....I think. Just because someone wrote "locally reassigned" doesn't mean that's what the orders will say.

I am in a holding pattern here at work. I feel like Winston Smith after O'Brian got his hands on him. I'm an unperson. My office is now someone else's. I have no phone. No one has work for me. I come and go when I please. I think I'll start hanging out at the Chestnut Tree Cafe and write 2+2=5 a lot.

Again, apologies for not writing more. Since I have all this time on my hands, there will be no excuse for not posting.

44,000 and Counting

2004-12-28T13:29:00.000-06:00

I, along with the rest of the world, am shocked and saddened by the events unfolding in Asia. The sheer scale of the disaster is incomprehensible to me. So many children....my heart is sick. The list of countries and casualties continues to grow.

Want to help? Here's a list of charitible organizations accepting donations:

The Herath Foundation - 320.308.2189
The Minnesotan Indonesian Society - 952.882.8993
The Association for India's Development, Inc. - 301.422.4441
Action Against Hunger - 212.967.7800
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee - 212.885.0867
American Red Cross (International Response Fund) - 1.800.HELP NOW
Baptist World Aid - 703.790.8980
Care USA - 1.800.521.CARE
Catholic Relief Services - 1.800.736.3467
Christian Children's Fund - 1.800.776.6767
Doctors Without Borders - 888.392.0392
Internation Red Crescent Society - (41).22.730.4222
Lutheran World Relief - 1.800.597.5972
Oxfam American Asia Earthquake Fund - 800.77.OXFAM
Save The Children - 800.728.3843
US Fund For UNICEF - 800.FOR.KIDS
World Emergency Relief - 760.930.8001

Please open your hearts (and wallets) and give what you can.

Merry Christmas!

2004-12-24T07:24:00.000-06:00

christmas-homecoming, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Sorry, been awfully busy since I've been home. Not much time to blog. I'll make up for it next week. Got loads to talk about.

Thursday Diversion

2004-12-16T17:48:00.000-06:00

ryo2, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Ryo again. Same couch, different pose.

I wanna ride.

2004-12-14T09:07:00.000-06:00

128_2858
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

Why Winter Sucks...
#1 in a series

Happy Holidays

2004-12-14T08:29:00.000-06:00

I nearly pulled a "Leanda' on my way to work this morning. In our office vernacular it means some manner of road-rage. I drive to work with all the 'Johnny Lunch-Pails' before 0600 and I usually miss all the rude, office-mouse types, so I've grown un-accustomed to their antics. This plumpish morsel in his wannabe sport coupe zooms up past me in the right lane. He's not going anywhere because the slow car over there is the reason that I and the truck in front of me shifted lanes. When it becomes obvious that he can't force the slow guy into the ditch by riding his bumper he tries to shoot over between the truck and me. No way this is gonna happen; I close the distance. He drops back and gets so close behind me that I can't see his headlights. O.K., as soon as I can get over to the right lane I'll let him by. He takes immediate advantage of my move...but flips me off as he flies by.

Dammit, why'd he have to do that? Where I come from, if you treat someone with that sort of disrespect on the road, you'd better be ready to take the next exit to Fist City.

I got behind him. I put my high-beams dead-on his bald spot. He sped. I sped. He weaved. I weaved. He shot over a couple of lanes and I re-acquired him a 1/4 mile later. I got next to him and put the beam of a very bright flashlight on the side of his spotty, corpulent head. He got real polite.

I guess when he got to work that he probably appreciated the sweetness of the air, and the beauty of a winter morning, that can accompany a near-miss-ass-whuppin'.

Here's my Winter Driving Safety Tip: Don't flip off strangers on that big black ribbon unless you are some kind of thrill-seeker.

Last Week!

2004-12-12T07:14:00.000-06:00

Well, my personal horror that is Recruiter school is nearly over. Last week we had our multimedia exercise. After you convice the sucker...er, applicant, to come in to your office, you show him a computer-based brain washing....er, presentation. The presentation will dazzle the individual so much they become putty in your hands. The modus operendi is that the applicant will be so excited to join they won't notice you convinced them to sign up as unassigned infantry.

Neat, huh?

The scenarios take for granted you have an 18 year old who knows what the hell he wants in life. Come on. Be real. When I was 18, all I wanted was beer and a biologically accomodating female. Did I mention beer?

The areas we are told everyone will buy off on are called TEAMST. I'll elucidate:

Training
Education
Adventure
Money
Travel

See how easy that is? Everyone is supposed to fit into one of those catagories. You find their two buying motives, ask which one is more important to them, and sell them on their least important one. That way, if they don't buy off on that one, you can try the one that got them into your office in the first place. Just like selling a used car.

Thursday Diversion

2004-12-10T04:16:00.000-06:00

Chisato 2, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Better late than never.

Hello? HELLO??

2004-12-07T19:01:00.000-06:00

We had our telemarketer test today. The scenario is this: you call a high school senior, recent graduate or college student. You use time-tested telemarketer techniques to bully him or her into a meeting at your office or their house. The idea is to sell the meeting, not enlist them into the Army....yet.

The testing was a joke. The student sits in a chair with a video camera taping the interview. The person testing you is off camera, acting as the recruit. You have to jump through the hoops. There is actually a format for this. What we found out is that it doesn't matter how effed up you are, you passed anyway. We had some real heroes going through this today. Not anywhere near ready for the test. It was painful to watch some of these guys do the call. Kind of like watching a car accident happening in front of you. You are powerless to help. You find your hands sweating, and you realize you are making a cringing face. I had to get up and leave. Simply too painful to watch.

Now, we are going through the multi media exercise. We use a computer sales pitch to steal young peoples souls.

Never knew being an agent of Satan could be so rewarding.

Offical Thursday Diversion

2004-12-02T21:01:00.000-06:00

ryo, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Nice er....couch.

Not 'newsworthy'

2004-12-02T09:24:00.000-06:00

iraqipeoplehappy
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

Now that I've gotten this image from 2 separate troops, I'll post it as something we should all acknowledge. Good things are happening in Iraq and the Main Stream Media does not want you to know.

not the official Thursday Diversion

2004-12-02T09:22:00.000-06:00

heart
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

There's something nice about this picture...

badpoetry.com

2004-12-01T19:40:00.000-06:00

This keeps getting funnier. I went to the poetry.com website, and entered my name. There it is; 'Kittens' is treated like a legitimate work of poetry. Who am I to say what constitutes art? When I write a nasty little rhyme, the boundaries of art are not as stretched as Robert Mapelthorpe's colon. Part of me thinks that there isn't a real person who could sit down over coffee and think "Say, this is a fine poem.", but rather there's a computer protocol that received 'Kittens' and filed it. Viola! Congratulations, semi-finalist. Then again...

So today I took the next step and entered another poem, as solicited by poetry.com. It's titled 'Bunny Costume'. I want to see how far this improbable ride will go before someone says "Get the hell off, sir." The worst is probably the likeliest truth; there is a market for odd lyrical poems, and I'm the new 'combat poet'.

For your scrutiny, then... 'Bunny Costume'

'Bunny Costume'

This is the duck that I found at the park.
Screams sound the same when it's light or it's dark.
Maytag won't take away stains that aren't there.
When I go to the city the people all stare.

I drank so much coffee I could write all the names
of the last seven mayors of the town of St James.
I passed by a streetlight and absorbed it's warm glow.
Where are the bodies? Only I know.

Probably only someone from a snow-state will get the connection between drinking a lot of coffee, and writing someone's name....in the snow.

Oh, and relax; there are no bodies.

Make the bad man stop, mommy!

2004-11-30T11:36:00.000-06:00

Prairie poet Bill Holm told the story about the time he read poetry for some residents of a retirement home. He’d been an accomplished poet for some time and had written books of prose. As he read his poems, one of the residents was particularly interested. She rolled her chair ever closer and listened intently. When he finished his last poem, she looked at him and proclaimed, “Shit, shit; it’s all shit.” Not what he thought she’d say but so goes literary criticism.

A couple of months ago, in response to one of those pop-ups on whatever website I was visiting; I composed a quick little poem. I don’t remember what the thing was that I wanted to win, and I’m sure I never got it, but this is how I began my tenure as “One of the best poets of 2004”. From 1 Poetry Plaza, in Owings Mills, Maryland came a letter. My poem was carefully read and discussed before I was selected as a semi-finalist. Based upon my ‘unique talent’ and ‘artistic vision’ my poem, “Kittens”, is to be published in a coffee table book. It will be hardbound and printed in two colors on fine milled paper.

Weeks later, I received an email from Poetry.com that advised me that the International Library of Poetry wished to feature an entire page devoted exclusively to my poetry. You see, apparently my poetry “sparks the imagination and presents the reader with a fresh, unique perspective on life.” They encourage me to include some personal information so that “readers can gain a greater awareness about my motivations, the meaning poetry has in my life, the story behind my poem, or my personal or philosophical point of view.”

Today in the mail I got another letter. Every so often as their editors review the poems that have been selected for the Editors Choice Award, they “personally select a few poems that they believe would have a wonderfully expressive quality if read by a professional reader.” I’m not making this stuff up, I swear. So the editor has suggested that I become one of 33 poets whose artistry will be recorded professionally as a special part of a new CD poetry collection- The Sound of Poetry. They will proceed 3 weeks after I give my permission with a reading of “Kittens” as “Captivating Baroque music forms the background of the spoken words.”

“Just imagine how your friends and family will feel when they see this remarkable album set, which comes in three high-quality, colorful protective cases all housed in a distinctive slipcase …when they hear your name…your words…all presented as part of this exclusive collection. These albums will instantly become a treasured keepsake to all who see, hear and enjoy them.”

So, there it is. I am a luminary, one of George Bush Sr’s thousand points of light, and judged to be “One of the best poets of 2004”. Here’s my poem, enjoy.

Kittens

I’m so happy, I could squish a kitten. They have bright shiny eyes, and live in a world that has no lies. They chase around a ball of string, and are troubled not by worldly things. Their tiny paws are soft and sharp; their furry tails are good lure for carp. Send me your kittens, please.

If you’re family, or even one of my close friends, I guess you know what you’re getting for Christmas…

California, Here I Come

2004-11-27T13:50:00.000-06:00

I found out on Wednesday that I would be sent to Petaluma, California. When this course is complete, I will go home for awhile and prepare to move. I have to make contact with the recruiting station commander and find out when I am expected.

Petaluma is about 35 miles north of San Francisco. I did a little research on the area. It seems to be a fairly expensive area to live...I hope there is base housing close by. The average home value is in excess of $280,000. Kinda pricey.

Mrs. Felten should be pleased. The area has a large Filipino community. This means resturants and social events she wasn't able to experience in Minnesota. That should make the transition easier for her to deal with.

I will call the station this week to let them know I'm coming. Hopefully, I won't have to report in until after the holidays.

Thursday Diversion

2004-11-24T23:18:00.000-06:00

kaori shimamura, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Happy Turkey Day. Here's something to be thankful for.

simchah

2004-11-24T08:26:00.000-06:00

simchah
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

Simchah say's "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Farside

2004-11-24T08:20:00.000-06:00

Farside
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

Blessings of Liberty

2004-11-24T07:18:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.

I will sleep in until 0600 at least. I will set the coffee-maker tonight to make 12 cups of Starbucks Mocha Sanani, and settle into the Big Couch with my dog, to read my new Far Side Complete Collection. It's an early Christmas gift from my brother John. I'll drink coffee and watch the sunrise over the deck of my new house. At about 0730 my son will come upstairs from his room, in his pajamas, with his blanket. He'll smile when he sees that I have the day off, and climb onto the couch with me. Thank You, God.

I was talking with a friend of mine from Liepzig, on Saturday. She commented that Americans tend to forget that the Thanksgiving holiday is uniquely American. People ask her "How do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Germany?" The thing is, we Americans want people to celebrate a holiday to give thanks to God for his blessings. That's hard to do if you don't have food or some of the other things so many Americans take for granted. It's also difficult to say something nice when your mouth is busy chanting that you hate the West. Well. People hate me... Ha-ha-ha! I drink coffee from Yemen, I hope they didn't pee on the beans...

I will go back to work on Monday, and continue to fight the Global War on Terror, because God has seen fit to bless the United States of America with people who are committed to preserving our blessings from those who would destroy them.

To all of my fellow servicemen and women who are away from home tomorrow, and to those who have gone before us and to all of your families; a most hearty Thank-You!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Long Fall

2004-11-23T17:26:00.000-06:00

Dan Rather announced today that he would be stepping down as the anchor of "CBS Evening News".

So after 24 years of listening to his liberal commentary, we catch a break. He joins Tom Brokaw in retirement.

Maybe the embarrassment that turned his face as red as the Republican political map was too much. Perhaps he just wants to spend more time with Babs and Alec Baldwin. Who knows?

Who cares? Ding dong, the witch is dead.

Cultural clash

2004-11-23T06:28:00.000-06:00

This last weekend a St Paul Hmong man went hunting in Wisconsin and exceeded his bag limit. He took one doe, and five bucks. Years ago, when my friend Dave was studying for the DNR, he could identify all of the native fish by looking at a fin, or a single scale. This Hmong guy would never have passed the tests, since he apparently can't tell the difference between a herd of deer, and 6 human beings. Previous arrests for this guy include assaulting his own wife with a handgun, (again, not a recognized game animal) and over-fishing. He took 175 Crappies. This fish has an unfortunate name, but it's a favorite of Minnesotans because it's a scrappy little fighter that's fun to catch. What our newer immigrant population (and the Hmong are not alone in this...) can't seem to grasp, is that game animals like fish, birds, and mammals are all 'Managed resources'. Standing along the roadside shore of a metro lake, and filling your 5 gallon pail with fish is a crime here. We would rather have you go to a soup kitchen to get our money, than to watch you steal our game animals that we pay to have managed. This is my "Modest Proposal"(a nod to Jonathon Swift). Legal residents of Minnesota and Wisconsin be allowed to purchase a license which permits them to harvest anyone that they catch with more than 25 sportfish. Traps would be O.K. as long as they are of the humane variety; there could be a special season for archers, and for rifle. In township limits, only shotguns would be allowed and then only with steel shot. Within the actual city limits only clubs and nets would be legal. The hunters could then turn their catch in at designated registration points, where there are buses waiting to take them to the airport for deportation. When I was a little kid, my dad taught us that hunting and fishing were privileges that you had to earn through responsible behavior. You had to demonstrate to your dad that you understood the responsibilities that granted the privilege before you ever took the life of an animal. You bastards stop acting like you are back in the countries you fled as refugees. We do not intend to allow you to re-create those conditions here. Start policing yourselves, or we will.

One more little thing; don't shoot people, ya' Jamokes..

Pull The Other One

2004-11-22T17:12:00.000-06:00

The Commanding General of the Army Reserve came by today to tell us just how important we are to the recruiting mission. Although taking time out of his busy schedule was sincerely appreciated by all, we didn't need him to tell us that. We understand how the numbers are vital to readiness across the board.

What we were hoping to hear, we didn't. There is still no word on where we will be going when we're done with this course. Everyone (all 400 plus) of us have a horror story about having to be on station 10 days after we graduate and what a pain that's going to be. We are really worried about succeeding at a difficult job with so many unknowns.

Still, we are safe and sound in the good 'ol USA. Most of us have been to Iraq or Afghanistan, so we understand just what's at stake. And damned glad we are home.

We were told by the school that the Human Resources Command is busy working on our assignments. The same thing they told us last week. And the week before.

Thursday Diversion

2004-11-18T18:36:00.000-06:00

chisato kawamura, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

First Week

2004-11-17T18:36:00.000-06:00

Finished the first testing portion of this course. Pretty simple stuff. Morals (ha!) and enlistment eligibility. Knocked that out this morning and started the new material this afternoon.

I've been in touch with the Minneapolis Recruiting Battalion in the hopes of finding a position in either the Twin Cities area or Rochester, Minnesota. I have a house in the Twin Cities. There's a few small issues with the timeline they've given me, and I'm not real happy with it.

I'm scheduled to graduate on 17 December. I'm supposed to be at my new unit on 27 December. In the meantime, I have to clear the unit I belong to now, and if I have to move, I have to do the following:

1. Sell my house.
2. Pull my daughter out of school.
3. Turn off all my utilities.
4. Arrange movement of my household goods.
5. My pregnant wife has to either quit her job or find an office she can transfer to.
6. Find a new place to live.
7. Get my utilities hooked up.
8. Get my household goods moved from wherever the Army stored them.
9. Find a new school for my child.
10. Help my wife find a new doctor.

All this, remember, has to be accomplished in 10 days. The U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) has yet to tell us where we are going. There are over 400 of us in this class, and they still need to do our backround investigations. We probably won't find anything out until the last week we're here. That's really going to complicate our lives.

In the 17 years I've been playing soldier, this is the most ate-up situation I've ever experienced. I can't believe this. I think the reason I'm not more angry is the fact that I'm still in shock.

The rise and fall

2004-11-13T09:32:00.000-06:00

It's going to be a busy day. I'm replacing some plumbing in my house, and I've convinced Cheryl's dad to come over and supervise (point and laugh). I had a whirlwind week, travels to Ft Bragg, NC and then Chicago for a couple days. I haven't even been in the office since the 8th.

I keep a link to www.teenshelter.org in my favorites. It keeps a tally on the 'number of US abortions since Row v. Wade'. Today the count is at 46,552,048. That is since January 22, 1973. What are we doing, folks?

Dan is still at recruiting school. Integrity held hostage day #7. Recruiting will get an entire chapter in the book I'm writing. USAREC is the United States Army Recruiting Command. They embody all that is wrong with America. There are some of the US Army's most professional and dedicated NCO's currently serving as recruiters, but it's like we're letting chimpanzees drive the Ferarri when we allow them to be managed by this organization. I don't have the solution that our army culture would find palatable, but I still say that it's time to storm the Bastille. Fit these scoundrels with a nice piece of sturdy hemp, and stretch their necks. Like Josey Wales says; "Buzzards gotta eat too, same as worms".

I had my kids all to myself yesterday. Not that I don't live with them, but Cheryl needed a break. We went to the lake and fed the ducks. Feeding the ducks is one of my fond childhood memories, and they had a great time. In 2004 feeding the ducks requires a bit of Emerson's 'Civil Disobedience'. It is not actually illegal yet, but the city of St Paul has spent some money to erect colorful signs under the auspice of 'Public Service' to explain why it's morally wrong to feed the ducks. If you've ever listened to "Joe's Garage" by Frank Zappa, you know that the job of the 'Central Scrutinizer' is to enforce the laws that haven't been made into laws yet. Frank was penning this ditty back in 1978-79 but he saw the rise of liberal brow-beating in our public institutions. You still can't come right out and tell someone to bow to your ideas, but there's tax money there to support the suggestion. While the elections of 2004 have clearly indicated that the workin' folk in America were sufficiently incensed by the liberal threat to the moral fabric of our country to actually get out and vote, the Dem's still firmly possess the administration of our public institutions. When the Hebrews were led into captivity, it was clear to their captors that they had to re-educate the youth if they hoped to control the entire race. So nothing much has changed in the intervening centuries. The DNC had enlisted the aid of their best pop-culture icons to energize the youth vote. Young adults were admonished to 'vote or die' by garbage culture's rap musicians, and history's other rock-has-beens, but it turned out that while they like a free concert, they still like sleeping in more. 17% seems to be the number of first time eligibles that will vote. I remain encouraged by these kids. As much as they are propagandized that the war and it's warriors are evil, the war is emerging as the defining event of their generation, giving them a commonality that has been long absent, and a unity of purpose that brings them a nobility that my generation lacked. I was at a high school production of "42nd Street" last night, and I noticed a number of students who could only be described having a 'military induced bearing' leading me to believe they have enlisted. Could it be that America is about to turn a corner and re-examine our responsibilities and morals? The democratic party, since the election has been compared to a drowning man, thrashing in the throes of death. I don't think we will see another major candidate emerge from the left of their ranks. I support their internal blood-letting if it will produce candidates like a Zell Miller and force American politics onto the high road. Vive' le Red States!

Oh well, have a great weekend. I'm gonna go play with my kids.

France Honors Terrorist

2004-11-12T22:20:00.000-06:00

arafat
Originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

France payed its respects to Arafat with a military honor guard, complete with Army pallbearers.

Chirac saluted Arafat as "a man of courage and conviction" who embodied the Palestinian fight for their national rights.

Suprising no one.

Thursday Diversion

2004-11-11T00:44:00.000-06:00

elisha, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

The beautiful Miss Cuthbert, from "24".

Magically delicious.

The Frogboy Croaks

2004-11-11T00:28:00.000-06:00

arafat, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

The world's premire terrorist has died. The man responsible for Munich '72 and the rise of international terrorism finally has his day in hell. I'm sure Satan has some fun times planned for this one.

Clinton had some nice things to say. President Bush, however, didn't. I haven't heard how the French president feels. I'm pretty sure he's broken up, though.

How will the Palestinians react? Will they finally come to the realization that bombing buses will not bring about a lasting peace? Will Israel come to the bargaining table and finally stop building in Gaza? How will this affect the general disaster that is the peace process in the Middle East?

I won't miss him. Incredibly, he won the Nobel Peace Prize awhile back. That's not going to help much in Hades. As the Vodkapundit so delicately put it: "May his first day in Hell last 1,000 years".

Amen, brother.

Day One

2004-11-08T20:13:00.000-06:00

I just finished my first day of Army Recruiter school. Quite what I expected.

There are over 400 students in this course. To a man (and woman) we don't want to be here. We all received either a phone call or an email stating that we HAVE to go. That having been said, we are all Non-Commissioned Officers and professionals. We will do our best, both in this course and in our new assignments. We have yet to find out where we will be posted. We filled out a "dream sheet" outlining our geographical preferences, but I have a sneaky suspicion I'm going to be sent to Armpit, U.S.A. because of the sheer numbers of recruiters the Army has decided to train.

My personal opinion is that the number of recruits is a fairly static number. This number is determined by geography, economy, and situation (financial and peace vs. war). I don't know that you can influence this number short of a draft.

With a war on, it is going to be very difficult to get those numbers up. The Army, in it's debateable wisdom, has decided that this is a mission that will succeed. They are so adamant, in fact, that they've called up recruiters who completed their tours and forced them back.

I go where I'm told and do what I'm legally ordered. Recruiters have a reputation, sometimes deservedly so, of being liars, cheats, and general B.S. artists. I know a few that have comprimised their personal integrity to get the numbers they were ordered to achieve. I pray that I will never fall into that trap. I intend to do the best job I can and get back to my regular Army career.

Today we just got administrative stuff done. More of the same for tomorrow, I think. Our days start pretty early. Physical training starts at 5 in the morning, and we are supposed to be done daily around 4:30 to 5:30. I'll keep you all posted as to what happens....

Zero Wing, Part II

2004-11-08T19:39:00.000-06:00

allyourvotes, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Shamelessly stolen from my friend Tiffany.

What Democrats Don't Understand

2004-11-05T13:37:00.000-06:00

campaign10, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

OK, lets get this out of the way first. I am not gloating. While it is true that my candidates, for the most part, won and Tom Daschle lost, that is not what I want to talk about.

I am not happy with the tone of this election. No one focused on the issues; instead, sidebars ruled the day. I couldn't care less about the military records of these guys. I mean, for crying out loud, there were so many more pertinent issues that needed to be focused on. Why did the American people put up with this nonsense? I call it the "Jerry Springer Syndrome". Anyway, I don't want to talk about that, either.

I was watching "The Daily Show" the other night. The senior senator from New York was on as a guest. He was asked why he thought the Dems lost and "do we need to adjust our message?". His hubris was evident in his response.

"We didn't lose" and "Our message was received resoundingly by the majority of Americans" were the themes.

What?

Now, if anyone were to ask me why I thought the Democrats couldn't secure a majority in the House and Senate, or why President Bush didn't call Mayflower, I'd give the following reasons:

1. The candidate. Most of my friends are Democrats, believe it or not. When I asked them about Kerry, they could not really get excited about him. He was "the alternative to Bush". Not a good enough reason.

2. The issues.
a. "Anyone but Bush" is no reason to vote for someone. I mean, hell, Nader didn't get one single EC vote. Not one. You have to be excited about your candidate to win.
b. Terrorism. Sorry, guys, it trumps prescription meds and exporting jobs.
c. Economy. Yes, it was bad. You know what? He inherited that. And he fixed it. The budget is out of whack, but terrorism is trumping that, too.

The Democratic Party is at a crossroads. Are they going to become moderate? That would be the logical thing to do. There are many Republicans out there who are not comfortable with the Religious Right dictating the direction of the party. Are the Dems going to allow a likeable, moderate candidate to rise to the fore?

The Democrats think they understand what is important to the majority of Americans. This is, and will continue to be, their fatal flaw. Guess what? We DON'T WANT GAY MARRIAGE. We want the family and family values protected. The majority of Americans understand it is not the EVIL RICH who are getting over on the taxes. Hey, we aren't as stupid as the Dasch-holes would like to think. They are paying taxes. Usually, more than we are. Also, we're sure you're not doing too badly yourself, Tommy. Besides, if you keep punishing people for getting rich and being successful, what happens? Do be become a mediocre, socialist country? Guess so.

Terrorism, radical Islam, and how to best protect America from them are also right up there with us. We don't want to fight them here. That's why we go to Iraq. We understand the war isn't mismanaged. We have friends and family in the military. We actually know people who are there fighting this war, as opposed to Dan Rather, Susan Sarandon and Michael Bore. Speaking of Bore, we don't like Diktat's from Hollywood. Get off your high horses.

I'm hearing alot of the Hollywood elite who supported Kerry running up to the polls actually voted for Bush. I guess there is no honor among thieves. Either that, or they understand that if Kerry got elected, he would have taxed Americans so much they couldn't afford to go to the movies anymore.

The Democrats need to sit down and unscrew themselves. The elitist, "we know what is best for you" attitude didn't fly with Americans this time. Do you know something? It never will.

Thursday Diversion

2004-11-04T02:54:00.000-06:00

CMorishita14, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Another Chisato pic. As if you're complaining.

Happy Condom Day!

2004-11-02T15:47:00.000-06:00

They sure know how to have fun in Nepal. I can't believe it's been ten years, can you?

KATHMANDU, Nov 2 (OneWorld) - On October 30, the Nepalese people celebrated something very unusual, a Condom Day, to spread awareness on reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and population control. Interestingly, the Condom Day is being celebrated all over Nepal for the last ten years and has not only seen participation but also acceptance among the conservative Nepalese society. Parents allow their children, including girls to participate in the celebrations. As a school girl from a Kathmandu school put it: "My parents do not object to my participation in the Condom Day events." The day, which is celebrated on the first Saturday after Dashain, – a major festival of the Nepalese Hindus - was started in 1995 at the national level by the Nepal Red Cross. The Condon Day is an offshoot of the Reproductive Health Project of the Nepal Red Cross during the early nineties, which disseminated information on contraception in five districts. The head of communication of the Nepal Red Cross, Bijay Dahal, says: "Workers in Udaipur district decided to hold an exclusive event on the condom in 1993. Inspired by its success, we decided to hold the Condom Day in 1994 in all the five districts under the Reproductive Health Project. And finally in 1995, we launched it nation-wide and now it is celebrated in all the 75 districts of Nepal." Promoted by the Nepal Red Cross, the day has the backing of various non governmental organizations and the health department of the Nepal government. Dahal says: "Nearly 60 organizations are involved in the celebrations. The day has been a huge success as people have accepted and taken note of the importance of using condoms." The CRS Company, which was set up in 1978 to sell contraceptives through social marketing, estimates that nearly 45-50 million condoms are dispensed in Nepal. Managing director Shanker Raj Pandey says: "Nearly 20-25 million condoms are given free by the public sector. Another 20-25 million are dispensed through social marketing and nearly five million are sold through the private sector." But marketing condoms has not been an easy task. People harbour many misconceptions. Pandey elaborates: "People nurture a feeling that condoms are to be used outside marriage and not in marriage. There is a barrier between a husband and a wife over using condoms." Inducing behavior change in the society has not been easy. In Nepalgunj, which is dominated by Muslims, the approach was very different. Pandey says: "We spoke to the Muslim leaders and informed them about health. We did not speak to them about contraception but about AIDS and other diseases, and the condoms were accepted in the area." A country of 23.1 million people, Nepal has 4,800 people infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. The country saw its first AIDS death in 1988. the director of the Youth Department, Pitambar Aryal, says: "The Nepal Red Cross started the AIDS programme in 1994. Many positive people's organizations have come up and are helping in information dissemination openly, something which they could not do earlier." A big achievement for the Condom Day is that it unites all stakeholders and allows people to discuss AIDS, contraception and reproductive health. The celebrations in old Kathmandu roped in school children, positive people, NGO workers and also sex workers. Various estimates put the number of sex workers in the Kathmandu valley between 5,000 to 10,000 and nearly 10 to 15 organizations work with them on health and awareness. Exact numbers are difficult to compile because "prostitution is illegal in Nepal and also there is no red light area," says an employee of Centre for Development and Population Activities, which participated in the celebrations. The project coordinator of a Kathmandu-based NGO - General Welfare Pratishthan - Bharat Raut, says: "There are various kinds of sex workers. Most are those who work at the street level. Another segment is those who work as bar maids and in cabin restaurants. Another category consists of exclusive and upmarket sex workers." The General Welfare Pratishthan is working with nearly 3,000 sex workers. It has opened up drop-in centres where the women come and avail of health facilities and counseling. One of the enthusiastic sex workers at the Condom Day celebrations, Manmaya, (not her real name) who has been in the profession for the last three years, says: "I have seen a big change in the attitude of the clients and some men have even started bringing condoms." Manmaya now feels empowered enough to even persuade her clients to use condoms and tell them about AIDS and related diseases. She has also taken up peer-to-peer education – thanks to strenuous advocacy efforts by the NGOs.

Let's Make It Happen, Cap'n!

2004-11-02T14:33:00.000-06:00

Oct11BushEmotionalPentServ, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Get out there and do your civic duty.

A Reprieve

2004-11-01T21:18:00.000-06:00

Army recruiting
Originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Well, a call came in from the governor at the 11th hour, so to say. I was supposed to leave for Fort Jackson on Halloween, but I got lucky. I was able to convince TPTB to allow me to enter the next class (scheduled for 7 October).

This buys me a little time with the family. Not much, but any little time spent with them is better than none.

After Snake Oil Sales school, I will be posted somewhere. My guess is L.A. or San Diego. I requested the Bay Area, but I doubt I'll get it. The lovely and charming Mrs. Felten would really like that part of California...more restaurants and cultural choices for her (she's Filipina). Minnesota, although my home and home to most of her immediate family for the last 7 or so years, is a cultural and culinary Siberia for her.

I have come to some sort of peace and acceptance about this whole thing. Much like a terminally ill patient, I guess. It's completely out of my control and I am at the whim of the Army. Like I said before, it could be much worse, and I could be in Iraq again.

So, I will post here until circumstances prevent me from doing otherwise. I hope to be able to at least put something up every other day or so. I know that's the big no-no in blogging....inconsistency. I will endeavor to be current, at least.

Dan's DA selection process

2004-10-29T07:56:00.000-05:00

Dan's DA selection process
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

Dan is the one wearing spots...

Barking and Biting

2004-10-29T06:44:00.000-05:00

It rains on the wicked and the just, doesn't it? I'm trying to step back to get some perspective on this recruiting thing with -en, but I have not gotten far enough away yet for it to make a picture that I can see.

I understand that the recruiting command is suffering, that they are not meeting goals. The experience of this former recruiter, and everyone that I know who served as a production recruiter is that the problem is with the paradigm of management in that field. I said 'management' as opposed to 'Leadership', on purpose. In the movie "The Robe" the master of the Roman warship briefs his slaves thusly: "We keep you alive to serve this ship, so row well and live". The difference between their vocation and Army Recruiting is that they always had an objective standard: Rowing well=success. In recruiting, rowing well means that you should row more since you might have the capacity. When I would meet a particular challenge, say 2 enlistments above my monthly goal, I would get whatever the incentive was. I would have pushed maybe a little harder to convince applicants that were already in the process, to move up the timing. This would work against my projection for the following month, but incentives are called that for a reason... I never did it if it went counter to the best interest of the applicant. Rather than accept that I had met the critical need of the command, because they only offered incentives when their own asses were in a sling, my boss would pass along an admonition from the command for "sand-bagging". I always let them believe that I had a couple of extra applicants in my pocket because it was the best and only defense. Their paradigm of management insists that their subordinates are liars, kept in line (notice I didn't say kept honest) by threat and the withholding of praise. There is no escaping the conclusion that they expect their recruiters to lie. The only defense is to find some kind of power to hold over them, and the only coin recognized in the realm, is enlistments. A mission number is assigned at the beginning of each period. This is the number of recruits that you must produce, and you sign a statement to that effect, and it was a 'hard number'. My signing for my mission was an oath. I held myself to my promise, but it was also a contract. When you contract someone to pour your driveway, do you also expect a concrete sidewalk? Contracts protect both parties, except in Army Recruiting, where they treat the recruiter like a malingerer if he only does what he promised to do. Until the Department of the Army (rather than promote) purges from it's ranks, those people who see recruiters as the dishonest stereotype that the popular culture perpetuates, good NCO's will be trashed and burned out, by paper-tiger types who are unfit to lick their boots.

This is me barking. The future will see bite marks.

They don't call me 'Evil' for nothing...

Halloween Safety Tips

2004-10-28T22:33:00.000-05:00

From Jennifer Martinez

1 - When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead.

2 - Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.

3 - Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out.

4 - If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. However, it will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared. This also applies to kids who speak with somebody else's voice.

5 - When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off or go alone. Hit the first person that says, "Let's split up."

6 - As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell. It's just not that fun.

7 - Never stand in, on, or above a grave, tomb, or crypt. This would apply to any other house of the dead as well.

8 - If you're searching for something which caused a loud noise and find out that it's just the cat, GET OUT OF THERE ANYWAY!

9 - If appliances start operating by themselves, do not check for short circuits; just get out.

10 - Do not take ANYTHING from the dead.

11 - If you find a town which looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it. Don't stop and look around.

12 - Don't fool with recombining DNA technology unless you're sure you know what you're doing.

13 - If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are female. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.

14 - If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, kill them immediately.

15 - Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), anywhere in Texas where chain saws are sold, the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine.

16 - If your car runs out of gas at night on a lonely road, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help. If you think that it is strange you ran out of gas because you thought you had most of a tank, shoot yourself instead. You are going to die anyway, and most likely be eaten.

17 - Beware of strangers bearing tools. For example: chain saws, staple guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawn mowers, butane torches, soldering irons, band saws, or any devices made from deceased companions.

18 - If you find that your house is built upon a cemetery, now is the time to move in with the in-laws. This also applies to houses that had previous inhabitants who went mad or committed suicide or died in some horrible fashion, or had inhabitants who performed satanic practices.

19 - Dress appropriately. When investigating a noise downstairs in an old house, women should not wear a flimsy negligee. And carry a flashlight, not a candle. Make that two flashlights!

20 - Do not mention the names of demons around open flames, as these can flare suddenly. Be especially careful of fireplaces in this regard.

21 - Do not go looking for witches in the Maryland countryside.

You're Making Me Do WHAT??

2004-10-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

If you can believe it, the Army suddenly had the craziest idea...

"Ha," you're thinking, "the people who thought up Military Intelligence and Tactical Nuclear Weapons have a crazy idea? No way!"

But it's true.

Apparently, TPTB decided that the best use of SSG Felten would be to make him a recruiter. A DA Select, involuntarily detailed recruiter.

I told them that I couldn't sell a space heater to an Eskimo, but that landed on deaf ears.

So, yours truly will be putting his life on hold (again), going to Fort Jackson, SC for about 6 weeks, then moving to California. Probably the armpit known as L.A.

That's as wrong as two boys kissing in the back of church. But there it is.

So. What to do? Options:

1. Come up lame during the PT test. That will be held on the first day and will land me back at my desk within a week or two.
2. Develop Turretts Syndrome or a bad stutter (my apologies to anyone with either...but if you've got it, flaunt it).
3. Suck it up and do my duty.

Although 1 and 2 are appealing, would I be able to look at myself in the mirror at the end of each day? I doubt it. I consider recruiting a necessary evil. I know people (including Felton) who were stuck with this assignment. It is not what one would consider a "plumb gig". It absolutely blows. The most unappreciated job in the military. The hours suck, you work weekends, and your wife and children become people you pass on your way out the door. That's why the Army has to make you do it. Everyone on Active Duty at some time or another gets stuck with what we call a hardship tour. Recruiting, Drill Sergeant, a tour on the Korean DMZ. They all suck. They are all necessary. Someone has to do them. If everyone said "No way, not me", things simply wouldn't get done and the Army would grind to a halt.

Man. I feel like I got punched in the gut.

Ah well. Could be worse. I could be going back to Iraq. For a third time.

Thursday Diversion

2004-10-28T21:10:00.000-05:00

cmorishita, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

A kiss from Chisato always makes everything better.

Welcome back

2004-10-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's specious to comment that Leesville is, once again, "Safe for Democracy" now that Dan has completed his mission at Ft Polk. I have often made that observation whenever we conduct operations somewhere- that we have, for instance, kept Starbucks "Safe for Democracy" by our visit. The hard, dirty work and the devotion to keep on doing it, that is demonstrated by the cadre at JRTC, and elsewhere that you find the military deployed has drained the humor from such comments.

I have lately been very impressed with the maturity and fortitude of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Their pictures keep popping up in the media) I just spoke to one of our guys in Afghanistan. He's says that he is 9 1/2 hours ahead of me. I say America is 14 centuries ahead of him.

The U.S. Army has a new face, and it isn't the one that George Bush's opponent wants to portray. When I first enlisted 24 years ago, there were still war veterans among our ranks. While they may have concealed that fact, (having been labeled as war-criminals and dope-fiends) they were still there. A generation of weak-minded, pathetic pretenders emerged from behind the skirts of their mothers to talk about their experiences when they were "In The Shit". (search 'Stolen Valor' on the web) I even saw some of this behavior after Desert Storm. Now, the soldier who hasn't been shot at in Iraq or Afghanistan is the exception. Our force structure exposes everyone to the risks of a modern war. The novelty of danger has failed to immobilize our soldiers and no-one is likely to be telling "War Stories" unless they want some E4 who was there, to bust them out.

The realization that our troops have adjusted to the idea of peril, and just plan accordingly, tells me that the terrorists are losing. I predict that the Bush victory is going to sap the will to discard their lives for their prophet. There is money to be made in a flourishing oil economy ( that Iraq will soon have in it's full glory) that will overwhelm any support for Islamofacism masquerading as religion. After all, you can't buy goats for your daughters' dowry if you don't have a job. So there's that.

Since I was gone 2 weeks...

2004-10-25T20:44:00.000-05:00

Twins11
Originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

This only seems appropriate.

I'm Back!

2004-10-25T20:11:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

I made it back in one piece from Louisiana. Believe me, I was beginning to have my doubts. It was quite the experience. I have the most profound respect for the guys out there who are running that show from the PSYOP end. The mission comes first. Their families suffer through the mission cycles. I asked one of the guys there how they do it. He simply handed me a message form stating that 2 PSYOP soldiers had been killed in Iraq.

That definitely answered the "why" aspect.

So, thanks to the guys out there at JRTC who are doing the day-to-day grind. It is appreciated.

'nuff said.

The Cetacean Community v. George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld

2004-10-21T08:10:00.000-05:00

In a uninimous ruling this week, the 9th circuit court of appeals found that there is no good reason why animals should not be able to bring a suit against the President of The United States of America. No. 03-15866 (9th Cir.) They did stop short of allowing the case to go forward, citing lack of precedence, and conceding that they probably don't yet have the right administration to win such a case. The case cited is The Cetacean Community v. George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld , The Cetacean Community is the name chosen by the Cetaceans’ self-appointed attorney for all of the world’s whales, porpoises, and dolphins, Mr. Lanny Sinkin. Seems that the US Navy uses a low frequency active sonar to detect diesel submarines approaching the US coast. The following is excerpted from the 9th circuit's decision, and is not presented in it's entirety. The entire case can be viewed here. http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/8D838D1B772C88DA88256F32007C8AEE/$file/0315866.pdf?openelement

It is obvious that an animal cannot function as a plaintiff in
the same manner as a juridically competent human being. But
we see no reason why Article III prevents Congress from
authorizing a suit in the name of an animal, any more than it
prevents suits brought in the name of artificial persons such
as corporations, partnerships or trusts, and even ships, or of
juridically incompetent persons such as infants, juveniles, and
mental incompetents.

If Article III does not prevent Congress from granting
standing to an animal by statutorily authorizing a suit in its
name, the question becomes whether Congress has passed a
statute actually doing so. We therefore turn to whether Congress
has granted standing to the Cetaceans under the ESA,
the MMPA, NEPA,

Conclusion
We agree with the district court in Citizens to End Animal
Suffering & Exploitation, Inc., that “[i]f Congress and the
President intended to take the extraordinary step of authorizing
animals as well as people and legal entities to sue, they
could, and should, have said so plainly.” 836 F. Supp. at 49.
In the absence of any such statement in the ESA, the MMPA,
or NEPA, or the APA, we conclude that the Cetaceans do not
have statutory standing to sue.

Maybe when Flipper, Willy and their cetaceous pals come up with a better way to guard our coastline, they'll form a corporation that has standing...and on that day they can sue for an injunction and damages awarded in the form of buckets of fish. Fish won't have rights yet either.

my other car is a...

2004-10-20T10:19:00.000-05:00

GN 352-c
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

one of my happy places

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa..

2004-10-20T10:15:00.000-05:00

cowboy!
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

Howdy, Ma'am!

re-post of inadvertant deletion....

sorry Ma'am..

Criminal Justice?

2004-10-20T08:34:00.000-05:00

Hey, I thought that this guy said that he had been a prosecutor...

Unlike McCain, Bush, and Gore, Kerry has adamantly refused to authorize the release of his military records. Most think it's because of his phony battle medals. I think the real reason is below. He was not granted an Honorable Discharge until March 2001, almost 30 years after his ostensible service term had ended! This is very much out of the ordinary, and highly suspect.

There are 5 classes of Discharge: Honorable, General, Other Than Honorable, Bad Conduct, and Dishonorable. My guess is that he was discharged in the '70s, but not honorably. He appealed this sometime while Clinton was doing trouser-tricks in the Oval Office. Political pressure was applied, and the Honorable Discharge was then granted.

· On 18 Feb. 1966 John Kerry signed a 6-year enlistment contract with the Navy
(plus a 6-month extension during wartime).

· On 18 Feb. 1966 John Kerry also signed an Officer Candidate contract for 6 years - 5 years of ACTIVE duty & ACTIVE Naval Reserves, and 1 year of inactive standby reserves
(See items 4 & 5).

Because John Kerry was discharged from TOTAL ACTIVE DUTY of only 3 years and 18 days on 3 Jan. 1970, he was then required to attend 48 drills per year, and not more than 17 days active duty for training. Kerry was also subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Additionally, Kerry, as a commissioned officer, was prohibited from making adverse statements against his chain of command or statements against his country, especially during time of war.

It is also interesting to note that Kerry did not obtain an honorable discharge until March 12, 2001 even though his service obligation should have ended July 1, 1972. Lt. John Kerry's letter of 21 Nov. 1969 asking for an early release from active US Navy duty falsely states, "My current regular period of obligated service would be completed in December of this year."

· On Jan. 3, 1970 Lt. John Kerry was transferred to the Naval Reserve Manpower Center in Bainridge, Maryland.

· On 1 July 1972 Lt. John Kerry was transferred to Standby Reserve - Inactive.

· On 16 February 1978 Lt. John Kerry was discharged from US Naval Reserve.

Below are some of the crimes Lt. Kerry USNR committed as a Ready Reservist, while he was acting as a leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War:

1. Lt. Kerry attended many rallies where the Vietcong flag was displayed while our flag was desecrated, defiled, and mocked, thereby giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

2. Lt. Kerry was involved in a November, 1971 meeting in Kansas, that voted on assassinating members of the US Senate. He has lied about attending, and then admitted being there, but with a caveat that he was no longer part of VVAW, another lie.

3. Lt. Kerry lied under oath against fellow soldiers before the US Senate about crimes committed in Vietnam.

4. Lt . Kerry professed to being a war criminal on national television, and condemned the military and the USA.

5. Lt. Kerry met with NVA and Vietcong communist leaders in Paris, in direct violation of the UCMJ and the U.S. Constitution. Lt. Kerry by his own words & actions violated the UCMJ and the US Code while serving as a Navy officer. Lt. Kerry stands in violation of Article 3, Section 3 of the US Constitution.

Lt. Kerry's 1970 meeting with NVA Communists in Paris is in direct violation of the UCMJ’s Article 104 part 904, and US Code 18 U. S. C. 953. That meeting, and Kerry's subsequent support of the communists while leading mass protests against our military in the year that followed, also place him in direct violation of our Constitution's Article 3, Section 3, which defines treason as "giving aid and comfort" to the enemy in time of warfare.

The Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3, states, "No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-president, having previously taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, [who has] engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."

A. L. "Steve" Nash, MAC Ret, UDT/SEALDirector, AuthentiSEAL "The only service where all investigators are US Navy SEALs" http://www.authentiseal.org/

guilty pleasures

2004-10-20T08:18:00.000-05:00

128_2858
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

Mmm-hmm.

Happy birthday, sir.

2004-10-20T08:16:00.000-05:00

wine bar
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

Perfect moment

Starbucks update

2004-10-20T07:18:00.000-05:00

I like Starbucks. Dan likes Starbucks. We have our reasons, and for the most part they are guilty pleasure and they are selfish. I will sometimes smoke a cigar if I'm at the range or drinking 18 year-old single malt scotch. That's the thing about America. It does not have to be a benefit to the down-trodden peoples of the earth for me to enjoy it. It doesn't even have to be good for me. Life should have those moments of pleasure. I enjoy a stroll through Penzey's. I'll provide a link. www.penzeys.com The owner puts out a catalog every so often that includes some old family recipes, as well as his own mental meanderings. He defended the French by saying that we are spoiling their culture by stealing that "one perfect moment" when everything is just right. I had one of those moments, a week ago last Sunday, that lasted all day. I was doing things that I enjoy, amidst a sea of conflicts that had defined my week prior and indeed, my week since. I went motorcycling with my wife, my brother and my father in law. Later we met to celebrate my brother's 47th birthday. We drank good wine, and vintage port. Dangerous hobbies and intoxicating substances, all for the sheer pleasure of it. God bless my America, where I can enjoy a diversion from hard work because hard work makes me appreciate my leisure. Back to Starbucks for a minute... This site ran a story that was probably missed (since no-one reads us) about Starbucks and the war in Iraq. No doubt that Starbucks employs many people with Kerry signs on their car. They may wear bits of junk in their face, and dress funny. They are always friendly, and sometimes someone in Starbucks pays for my coffee, be it employee or other customer. Managers are called 'Baristas' and it was perhaps one of these that dissed our Marines and our cause. I believe that in joining a coalition of gourmet coffee shops across America that are providing tens of thousands of dollars in grinders, professional quality coffee makers and esspresso-capuccino machines, as well as the coffee to brew, they have made their corporate stand about the military quite clear. This coalition is making it possible for our troops in the forward firebases to set up their very own gourmet coffee houses...for free, subsidized by the profits of their own companies. Pretty cool.

Dan Rather's future career?

2004-10-18T11:03:00.000-05:00

The truth about Bush and the Economy

2004-10-18T09:03:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, we've had a few months of the Democrats screaming from the rooftops how bad the economy is under the Bush administration. Why is this bad? Because the market is dictated more than anything by consumer confidence. With the Democrats doing everything possible to erode consumer confidence to further their political agenda, they run the risk of creating a self-fulfilling prophesy. Let me elaborate.
Keynsian economic theory stipulates this: In a normal economy, there is a high level of employment, and everyone is spending their earnings as usual. This means there is a circular flow of money in the economy, as my spending becomes part of your earnings, and your spending becomes part of my earnings. But suppose something happens to shake consumer confidence in the economy. (Like some idiots in the Democratic Party doing their level best to shake consumer confidence) Worried consumers may then try to weather the coming economic hardship by saving their money. But because my spending is part of your earnings, my decision to hoard money makes things worse for you. And you, responding to your own difficult times, will start hoarding money too, making things even worse for me. So there's a vicious circle at work here: people hoard money in difficult times, but times become more difficult when people hoard money.
The cure for this, Keynes said, was for the central bank to expand the money supply. By putting more bills in people's hands, consumer confidence would return, people would spend, and the circular flow of money would be reestablished. Just that simple! The other method was for the federal government to put more money back into the economy in the form of tax relief. Holy Cow, the Bush Tax Refund to the rescue! Keynes phrase for this was "Priming the Pump".
So now we are back to Democratic supporters of John Kerry making statements on the economy which are at best, misunderstandings of the facts and at worst, total fabrications to further their own agendas. A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry claiming it proves that “Over the last four years, the burden of taxes has shifted from the wealthy to the middle class.” C'mon, you heard him during the debates- He told us the Bush tax refunds were for the "upper 2% of the wage earners in this country", and the poor and working class had to carry the burden. This is one of the Kerry campaigns biggest mantra's!
Now for the facts. Not interpretations, or suppositions, but facts from a non-partisan Congressional study.
A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry claiming it proves that “Over the last four years, the burden of taxes has shifted from the wealthy to the middle class.” The report proves that what President Bush said about his tax cuts is true: “Tax relief is for everyone who pays income taxes.”

It’s true for the rich, and it’s true for the not-so-rich. Across 109.4 million tax-paying households — from the wealthiest 1 percent with incomes averaging over $1 million to the lowest-earning 20 percent of people with incomes averaging $14,900 — the report shows that all income classes have seen their income tax rates lowered thanks to Bush’s cuts in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The CBO report shows how 2004 income tax rates have dropped for everyone compared with tax laws in force in 2000.
The report also shows that Bush’s tax cuts have been “progressive” — that is, they have shifted the share of the overall federal income tax burden toward the wealthy and away from lower-income earners. Without the Bush tax cuts, the highest-earning 20 percent of households this year would have paid 78.4 percent of all federal income taxes. Now, after the Bush tax cutes, their share of the burden has risen to 82.1 percent. Every other group now pays a smaller share of the total income tax burden. As can be demonstrated by the report, Kerry's statements on the tax burden being shouldered by the poor is a complete fabrication.
Finally, to refute the statements made by the Democratic supporters of John Kerry regarding the horrible state of the economy, and that things were infinately better during the Clinton years, here are a couple of other charts drawn from sources which are non-partisan.
Enough is enough, liberals. Better to remain silent and appear ignorant, than to open your mouths and remove all doubt.

John Kerry and Terrorism

2004-10-12T09:28:00.000-05:00

At the debate , John Kerry, asked to give examples of the administration's deceptiveness on the "war on terrorism," said the following:

"Well, 45 minutes deployment of weapons of mass destruction, number one. Aerial vehicles to be able to deliver materials of mass destruction, number two. I mean, I -- nuclear weapons, number three. I could run a long list of clear misleading, clear exaggeration...."

On Oct. 9, 2002 John Kerry participated in "a long list of clear misleading, clear exaggerations," to put it mildly. In his speech on the floor of the Senate just before voting to authorize Bush to invade Iraq, Kerry said:

"Why is Saddam Hussein attempting to develop nuclear weapons when most nations don't even try? ... According to intelligence, Iraq has chemical and biological weapons ... Iraq is developing unmanned aerial vehicles capable of delivering chemical and biological warfare agents..."

Kerry became famous by asking senators "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" Kerry is now himself a senator.

Mr. Kerry: How do you ask someone to die for your support of the invasion of Iraq? How do you ask someone to die for this mistake? More than a "mistake," how do you ask someone to die because you voted for an illegal , unconstitutional invasion? How do you ask Iraqis and Americans and others to die because you backed Bush?

How can you tell us that Bush was deceitful when you uttered many of the same falsehoods? How can you hold him accountable when you refuse to be held accountable yourself?

How can you be "electable" when you have many of the same skeletons in your closet as Bush? Do you really think the Republican machine won't cite your speech over and over again -- "Kerry claims that Bush lied when Kerry said many of the same things!" Fox will blare. Or, after you get the Democratic nomination, will you be quiet about Iraq, other than to talk about narrow issues like Halliburton -- searching for something, anything, that Bush is guilty of that you are not? You will come off as petty. Bush will come off as the visionary.

How could you have been deceived by the administration on Iraq? You tout your leadership and foreign policy experience. How could the idea of a government lying systematically about a war not been considered seriously by you, given your experience in Vietnam? How could you not know that Bush was lying even before the invasion?

How do you explain your speech -- lies in your speech that were known lies at the time.

You said:

The threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but it is not new. It has been with us since the end of the Persian Gulf War. It has been with us for the last four years -- since Saddam Hussein kicked out U.N. weapons inspectors at the end of 1998. And frankly, after Operation Desert Fox failed to force Iraq to readmit inspectors, the United States - and the international community -- erred in failing to find effective ways to compel Iraqi compliance, thus giving Saddam Hussein a free hand for four years to reconstitute his weapons of mass destruction programs and allowing the world to lose focus on the threat of proliferation.

Can you count the lies here? If anything, Hussein's weapons of mass destruction capability ended with the Gulf War, the exact opposite of what it claimed. Hussein did not "kick out U.N. weapons inspectors at the end of 1998." They were withdrawn by UNSCOM head Richard Butler at the behest of the Clinton administration so it could launch the "Desert Fox" bombing campaign on the eve of Clinton's scheduled impeachment vote. And "Desert Fox" did not "fail" to achieve Iraqi compliance, it succeeded in destroying UNSCOM. The U.S. government, well before Bush, clearly did not want a successful weapons inspection program. If Saddam could continue verifying his compliance, there would be more pressure to lift the draconian economic sanctions.

How can you talk of the administration rushing to war when you said:

But the Administration missed an opportunity two years ago and particularly a year ago after September 11th to address this issue. They regrettably, even clumsily, complicated their own case. The events of September 11 created a new understanding of the terrorist threat and the degree to which every nation is vulnerable. That understanding enabled the Administration to forge a broad and impressive coalition against terrorism. Had the Administration tried then to capitalize on this unity of spirit to build a coalition to disarm Iraq, we would not be debating this question now, just a few weeks before Congressional elections. The Administration's decision to engage on this issue now, rather than a year ago or earlier, and the manner in which it engaged has politicized and complicated the national debate and raised questions about the credibility of its case.

So that's what raises questions about the credibility of the administration -- the fact that they leveraged the Iraq invasion for the mid-term elections, not their pattern of lies. Mr. Kerry, you actually fault the administration for not being hawkish enough, for not immediately "capitalizing on" 9-11. It is clear that you merely offer a different flavor of U.S. corporate global control than the Bush administration.

For over a decade, no politician ever lost political ground by attacking Saddam. But you could be the first.

The arrogance of Kerry

2004-10-09T06:26:00.000-05:00

It's good to see that the President of The United States of America can get angry. I wondered how long he was going to let Kerry attack him, saying whatever came into his head, before he spoke up. Charlie Gibson tried to stop him, but then realized that George W. Bush is the President, and John Kerry never will be. Did you see Gibson's face after you patted him on the shoulder? That look is called 'Revulsion', John.

It is clear now that Kerry blocked the funding that would have provided me with my IBA (Interceptor Body Armor), and better protection for my canvas-topped HMMWV because he wanted to control which American company did, or didn't get the contract to provide it. His petulance got soldiers and Marines killed. Thanks, John.
Our convoy was stopped on the side of the road with a vehicle broken down, for lack of parts. It was nightime in June of 2003, after 2100 and still over 100 degrees. The wind was blowing so hard that the sand hitting skin hurt, but there was no way to avoid it while standing perimeter security as the mechanics lay on the road under the truck, with flashlights. The cooling fan in question was removed, and we had to slowly drive the remaing 80+ miles to Kuwait, exposed to the very real danger of ambush. That part would have been available if Senator Kerry had done his job, and passed the legislation. I know that, last night, he would have avoided saying that he exposed all of us in Iraq and Afghanistan to greater risks for no other reason than to make a political show of telling Haliburton who's the boss. He just got caught out in the open with no script. This admission must not escape the attention of the American people.

As for Senator Kerry? Stay away from us, in the military. We have had enough of you. Your boasts, your unfounded accusations, your pretending to be one of us, is all wrong. It sickens us. You drop names during the debates, forcing those people to print clarifications of what they said. You feel that you can just say whatever you want, and you always have. You have realized that too many Americans are gullible, and that your cheesy smile, and pretty hair will be enough to woo them. Everyone that doesn't know who you really are, hasn't served in the military, can't spell 'congress', and does not check out your lies and accusations against the facts will vote for you. You are Frank Burns. Always telling stories of made-up glory (just as soon as you had run away home from the camp where you hid, shamefully trembling under your cot).

My injuries in Iraq had nothing to do with your failures, but that cannot be said of most others. Still, I may outlive you, and if I do I plan to pour a bottle of fine wine on your grave...after I filter it through my kidneys.

Are you qualified?

2004-10-08T07:59:00.000-05:00

Qualifications for Office by Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster, known as the "Defender of the Constitution," was a famous orator and statesman who argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, served as a U.S. Congressman, a U.S. Senator, and U.S. Secretary of State. In testimony before the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention (transcribed below), Mr. Webster persuasively reasons for the peoples' right to establish qualifications for their elected officials and acknowledges the importance of Massachusetts' "respect and attachment to Christianity" through the retention of a constitutional provision requiring a profession of belief in the Christian religion as a qualification for holding public office.

In consequence of the separation of what is now the State of Maine from Massachusetts in the year 1820, it became necessary to make some change in the constitution of the Commonwealth. The opportunity was thought a favorable one for a general revision of that instrument, which had undergone no amendment since its adoption in 1780. Delegates were accordingly chosen by the people to meet in convention for this purpose. . . .Mr. Webster was among the delegates chosen by the town of Boston, and took an active and distinguished part in the business of the convention, both in committee-room and in debate. As soon as the body was organized. . . [t]he subject of the official oaths and subscriptions required by the [current] constitution was referred to a committee . . . of which Mr. Webster was chairman. A report was made by this committee recommending that . . . a simple oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth, together with the oath of office, should be taken by all persons chosen or appointed to office. . . . and that a profession of belief in the Christian religion no longer be required as a qualification for office.
Daniel Webster's remarks regarding the committee's report provides compelling reasoning which should be considered by every American voter today. Webster's comments emphasize the importance of Christian leaders and Christian principles in civil government. In the report, delivered on December 4th, 1820, Webster explained:

It is obvious that the principal alteration proposed by the first resolution is the omission of the declaration of belief in the Christian religion as a qualification for office in the cases of the governor, lieutenant-governor, councillors, and members of the legislature. I shall content myself on this occasion with stating, shortly and generally, the sentiments of the select committee, as I understand them, on the subject of this resolution.Two questions naturally present themselves. In the first place, Have the people a right, if in their judgment the security of their government and its due administration demand it, to require a declaration of belief in the Christian religion as a qualification or condition of office? On this question, a majority of the committee held a decided opinion. They thought the people had such a right. By the fundamental principle of popular and elective governments, all office is in the free gift of the people. They may grant or they may withhold it at pleasure; and if it be for them, and them only, to decide whether they will grant office, it is for them to decide, also, on what terms and what conditions they will grant it. Nothing is more unfounded than the notion that any man has a right to an office. This must depend on the choice of others, and consequently upon the opinions of others, in relation to his fitness and qualification for office. No man can be said to have a right to that which others may withhold from him at pleasure. There are certain rights, no doubt, which the whole people, or the government as representing the whole people, owe to each individual in return for that obedience and personal service, and those proportionate contributions to the public burdens which each individual owes to the government. These rights are stated with sufficient accuracy, in the tenth article of the Bill of Rights, in this constitution. " Each individual in society has a right to be protected by it in the enjoyment of his life, liberty, and property, according to the standing laws." Here is no right of office enumerated; no right of governing others, or of bearing rule in the State. All bestowment of office remaining in the discretion of the people, they have of course a right to regulate it by any rules which they may deem expedient. Hence the people, by their constitution, prescribe certain qualifications for office respecting age, property, residence, and taxation. But if office, merely as such, were a right which each individual under the social compact was entitled to claim, all these qualifications would be excluded. Acknowledged rights are not subject, and ought not to be subject to any such limitation. The right of being protected in life, liberty, and estate is due to all and cannot be justly denied to any, whatever be their age, property, or residence in the State. These qualifications, then, can only be made requisite as conditions for office on the ground that office is not what any man can demand as matter of right but rests in the confidence and good-will of those who are to bestow it. In short, it seems to me too plain to be questioned that the right of office is a matter of discretion and option, and can never be claimed by any man on the ground of obligation. It would seem to follow, then, that those who confer office may annex any such conditions to it as they think proper. If they prefer one man to another, they may act on that preference. If they regard certain personal qualifications, they may act accordingly, and ground of complaint is given to nobody. Between two candidates otherwise equally qualified, the people at an election may decide in favor of one because he is a Christian and against the other because he is not. They may repeat this preference at the next election on the same ground and may continue it from year to year.Now, if the people may, without injustice, act upon this preference, and from a sole regard to this qualification, and refuse in any instance to depart from it, they have an equally clear right to prescribe this qualification beforehand as a rule for their future government. If they may do it, they may agree to do it. If they deem it necessary, they may so say beforehand. If the public will may require this qualification at every election as it occurs, the public will may declare itself beforehand and make such qualification a standing requisite. That cannot be an unjust rule, the compliance with which, in every case, would be right. This qualification has nothing to do with any man's conscience. If he dislike the condition, he may decline the office in like manner as if he dislike the salary, the rank, or any thing else which the law attaches to it. But however clear the right may be (and I can hardly suppose any gentleman will dispute it), the expediency of retaining the declaration is a more difficult question. It is said not to be necessary, because in this Commonwealth ninety-nine out of every hundred of the inhabitants profess to believe in the Christian religion. It is sufficiently certain, therefore, that persons of this description, and none others, will ordinarily be chosen to places of public trust. There is as much security, it is said, on this subject, as the necessity of the case requires. And as there is a sort of opprobrium incident to this qualification - a marking out, for observation and censorious remark, of a single individual, or a very few individuals, who may not be able to make the declaration - it is an act if not of injustice, yet of unkindness and of unnecessary rigor, to call on such individuals to make the declaration and to exclude them from office if they refuse to do so. There is also another class of objections which have been stated. It has been said that there are many very devout and serious persons, persons who esteem the Christian religion to be above all price, to whom, nevertheless, the terms of this declaration seem somewhat too strong and intense. They seem, to these persons, to require the declaration of that faith which is deemed essential to personal salvation; and therefore not at all fit to be adopted as a declaration of belief in Christianity in a more popular and general sense. It certainly appears to me that this is a mistaken interpretation of the terms; that they imply only a general assent to the truth of the Christian revelation and, at most, to the supernatural occurrences which establish its authenticity. There may, however, and there appears to be, conscience in this objection; and all conscience ought to be respected. I was not aware, before I attended the discussions in the committee, of the extent to which this objection prevailed. There is one other consideration to which I will allude, although it was not urged in committee. It is this. This qualification is made applicable only to the executive and the members of the legislature. It would not be easy, perhaps, to say why it should not be extended to the judiciary if it were thought necessary for any office. There can be no office in which the sense of religious responsibility is more necessary than in that of a judge; especially of those judges who pass, in the last resort, on the lives, liberty, and property of every man. There may be among legislators strong passions and bad passions. There may be party heats and personal bitterness. But legislation is in its nature general: laws usually affect the whole society; and if mischievous or unjust, the whole society is alarmed and seeks their repeal. The judiciary power, on the other hand, acts directly on individuals. The injured may suffer without sympathy or the hope of redress. The last hope of the innocent, under accusation and in distress, is in the integrity of his judges. If this fail, all fails; and there is no remedy on this side the bar of Heaven. Of all places, therefore, there is none which so imperatively demands that he who occupies it should be under the fear of God, and above all other fear, as the situation of a judge. For these reasons, perhaps, it might be thought that the constitution has not gone far enough if the provisions already in it were deemed necessary to the public security.I believe I have stated the substance of the reasons which appeared to have weight with the committee. For my own part, finding this declaration in the constitution and hearing of no practical evil resulting from it, I should have been willing to retain it unless considerable objection had been expressed to it. If others were satisfied with it, I should be. I do not consider it, however, essential to retain it as there is another part of the constitution which recognizes, in the fullest manner, the benefits which civil society derives from those Christian institutions which cherish piety, morality, and religion. I am clearly of opinion that we should not strike out of the constitution all recognition of the Christian religion. I am desirous, in so solemn a transaction as the establishment of a constitution, that we should keep in it an expression of our respect and attachment to Christianity - not, indeed, to any of its peculiar forms but to its general principles.

(Source: Daniel Webster, The Writings and Speeches of Daniel Webster, (Boston: Little, Brown, & Company, 1903), Vol. III, pp. 3-7.)

Footsteps

2004-10-07T15:25:00.000-05:00

Well, Dan is at Ft Polk-in-the-whiskers, and is he ever having fun! He called this morning to say "Sell my house, and assign me to Leesville." Now, you may be hurt if you are from Leesville, LA by my callous remark. I'm O.K. with that. I'm a heartless bastard. Ft Polk is like that little puckered piece of skin under a rat's tail, and this is where the Army goes to get dirty. So, that's where Dan is tonight. Unfortunately for him, we also sent along this other tool that's spoiling paradise.

I have the "office at the end of the hall", and I am a stealthy walker. There is a soldier here that walks loudly. I believe he does it to force others to acknowledge him. It's unfortunate that he needs that kind of validation. I feel bad when I shun him (as bad as a heartless bastard can feel) because he's just generally a friendly guy that wants to be around other people, but he always shows up with an empty coffee cup, and empty pockets as well. My wife used to say that I should wear a button that says "friendlier than I look", but then she decided it might be more accurate to say "more of a heartless..." instead. How about a button that says "pay for your own stinkin' coffee" Nah, guess not. The nut of this is easy enough for my dog to understand. Don't bark unless there's someone outside, or you want to avoid doing something nasty on the floor. You want answers to lifes' little conundrums?
O.K., choose the answer that best applies to your special needs:
1. No, it's not art.
2. Your trendy car isn't cool, it's ugly.
3. You have jewelry in your face; how special.
4. You're not the only angry person.
5. Someone's done that already.
6. Your opinion is not my business.
7. Behavior does not grant special rights.
8. No.
9. So what?
10. And?????

It's your life. Treasure it, despise it, I don't care. Just keep it to yourself.

Comment up, dog.

The Vice President Election Debate

2004-10-06T13:26:00.000-05:00

The debate was extremely one-sided. People keep telling me that the vice-presidential debate is not significant. They seem to be forgetting that if Kerry were to be elected, which would be bad enough, he would be succeeded by Edwards if he were unable to serve his full term. I love the way the dems seem to conveniently be able to forget about such important issues. Edwards is obviously not as experienced, or as knowlegable as Cheney on issues such as national security, intelligence and foreign policy. Cheney knows his stuff and showed it while Edwards appears to be barely able to think for himself. Cheney did a great job of bringing Kerry's record out into the open. After the first debate, it seemed to have been temporarily forgotten. He called Edwards on the refusal to count Iraqi casualties, and also brought out the reality of the war and why Bush is obviously suited to be the Commander-in-Chief. While Edwards fumbled for words and showed an extreme lack of confidence, Cheney remained calm, confident and showed once again what a competent vice president he is. Edwards definitely failed in this debate.
Vice President Cheney won the debate last night. He showed confidence and didn't back down. He forced Edwards to explain Kerry's postitions and he was forceful yet subtle at the same time. Here are two quotes that I was really impressed with from the debate:“Senator, frankly, you have a record in the Senate that's not very distinguished. You missed 33 out of 36 meetings in the Judiciary Committee. Almost 70% of the meetings of the Intelligence Committee. You've missed a lot of key votes on tax policy, on energy, on Medicare reform. Your hometown newspaper has taken to calling you Senator Gone. You've got one of the worst attendance records in the United States Senate. Now, in my capacity as Vice President I am the President of the Senate, the presiding officer. I'm up in the Senate most Tuesdays when they're in session. The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight.” -- Vice President Dick Cheney“So they, in effect, decided they would cast an anti-war vote, and they voted against the troops. Now, if they couldn't stand up to the pressures that Howard Dean represented, how can we expect them to standup to Al Qaeda?” -- Vice President Dick Cheney

Dems Draft Scare backfires

2004-10-06T13:19:00.000-05:00

Dems Draft Scare backfires
Tuesday, the House or Representatives voted 2-402 against the reinstatement of the military draft. In the first Presidential debate, President Bush stated that our military would remain voluntary. The democrats have been trying to use the draft bills, introduced by Rangel and Hollings, as a scare tactic in this election season.
House Majority leader Tom DeLay said it all when he stated "This campaign is a baseless and malevolent concoction of the Democrat Party, and everyone in this chamber knows it. It has one purpose — to spread fear. To spread fear among an unsuspecting public, to undermine the War on Terror, to undermine our troops, to undermine our cause, and most of all, to undermine our commander in chief in an election year,"
Right now we have over 1.4 million troops in our military. To say we don't have the manpower we need is absurd. In addition, the cost of the draft would be astronomical if you consider the training bases and housing alone for the amount of people this draft proposal suggested.

Howdy, Ma'am!

2004-10-06T07:36:00.000-05:00

Howdy, Ma'am!
Originally uploaded by hareborneranger.

It's time for the

Thursday Diversion

Happy Trails!

Predictability

2004-10-04T09:35:00.000-05:00

A week ago, Saturday, I put about a hundred miles on the FLH. This morning, when I left for work, it was a refreshing 32 Fahrenheit. I have ridden in freezing temps, but that was Alaska, and I was 20. Thing is, I should have expected the bike season to end. There will be a few more days, before it snows, that finish off the year in glorious Fall colors which cover the woods and fields as I motor by. I just miss the possibility, as I glance out the window. I've been glancing out the window a lot lately.

When I pursued this duty position, I knew that the hours required would be unreasonable. I wouldn't have it any other way, because so many are doing so much more than most of us, as they deploy. When I bought a house, I knew that there was a huge maintenance requirement. This is why I get it when every Monday thru Friday is 10 hours at work, not counting the commute. The yard needs mowing when the grass is healthy, and we like a lush, green lawn. It keeps the neighbors from standing in the street, scratching their chin. The garage is wanting for some order before the snow flies. I have a taillight out on the Explorer. Life is fairly predictable. I know that there are exceptions, but if you plan better, it's manageable. Or, is it?

The other night, my 3 1/2 year-old son galloped into my bedroom, where I was reading. He said "Daddy, you have to come downstairs and be a monster." Yesterday my 2 year-old daughter wanted to me to kiss her dirty little foot because she had either stepped on a pointy rock, or wondered what I would do if she had stepped on one. I leave every morning before they awake, and get home in time to make dinner for two tired kids, and their exhausted mom, before I tuck them into their beds. I was whining the last few days because Mrs. -on had signed us up for a weekly study at church, which starts at 0845. This means that I am at church from 0830-noon. The study is called "Life Shaping", and it's focus is on parenting. I had only just kicked over my coffee cup, when we were instructed to "Get together in a group of 4-or-5, and consider this question." As I mopped coffee with a napkin, I growled quietly that it was one of those "sound of one hand clapping" questions, and wished that I had an excuse to leave.

I had slept until 0700, only because I had grumbled enough to make my wife feel guilty. She had gotten the kids dressed and fed, (like she does every morning, except that I try to relieve her for the weekends) and let me sleep. Silly question notwithstanding, Life Shaping turns out to be profoundly worthwhile. The worship service that followed was the most affirming marriage message that I have ever heard. My wife proved, once again, that she is indeed, always right. She did this quietly and with humility. She always forgives me. We walked out of the building into bright sunshine, each carrying a laughing child.

I could have found many ways to waste yesterday morning. My family is always changing, and I will eventually look back, and wish it were 2004 again, with my kids this little and perfect. No-one will remember if the lawn was nice, and I know that I will be fighting to get the snowblower in and out of my cluttered garage. I will stop on the way home to buy a new bulb for the truck. I can predict all of these things with relative confidence. What else can I do?
I'm a Kisser of dirty little feet.

Just A Few Things Before I Go

2004-10-02T21:52:00.000-05:00

bush Lincoln
Originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

The debate (and ensuing commentary from our friends on the left) the other night left me with a couple of thoughts rattling around in my head. Let me get these off my chest before I leave for Fort Polk.

Some people automatically assume that John Kerry is smarter than George Bush.

Granted, Kerry and the President both graduated from Yale. Bush, however, went to Harvard and attained an MBA in business. The last time I checked, they aren't giving those away.

Mr. Bush is also the first POTUS with an MBA.

Kerry is a better public speaker. I willingly concede that point. The President will never win a Toastmasters award.

There were many famous people who were not graced with a silver tongue. Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein leap to mind.

President Bush flew Interceptors during the Vietnam era. The plane he flew, the F-102, was notoriously slow and difficult to handle. It was a real bitch getting it fast enough to catch up to the Soviet bombers prior to stalling out. The pilot had to be quite skilled and adept.

One more thing: no matter how much Kerry wants to have "bilateral talks" with North Korea, it's not going to happen, folks. The second he tries that little number, the PRK will walk from the table. We're going to need the pressure of China and the rest of Asia on this one.

Personally, I don't think that will pass his "Global Test".

I think he meant "French Test".

Live Strong?

2004-10-01T14:10:00.000-05:00

JoKe has lately been seen conspicuously sporting one of those yellow 'Live Strong' bracelets. So, I wonder if Lance Armstrong would drop out of the Tour De France if he had injuries as crippling as those that Kerry claimed when he ran away from the war in Vietnam... I'll bet that when he loses this election he'll go to Armstrong's house and throw the bracelet over the fence.

The Draft, and more soldiers

2004-10-01T11:32:00.000-05:00

HUH? What did Kerry say? That's right; he wants to add two divisions to the Army. That's the U.S. Army by the way, even though he'd like to see them in blue berets, under the authority of the United Nations. He also wants to "double the size of Special Forces" And before I forget, he also to wants to unilaterally put troops in The Sudan. First, the two new divisions: How would you fill these divisions, John? The mysterious "Back-Door Draft" that you invented? You mentioned the 'Stop-Loss' that we are dealing with in the Army. This is a policy that causes soldiers to be extended against their want but within their contractual obligations. It is not a 'draft', but it is an indication that we are having a little difficulty filling the divisions that we currently have. There are not 2 more divisions worth of applicants lined up at the recruiting offices, just waiting to enlist.
Double the size of Special Forces... There has never been a more ambitious and aggressive recruitment push for SFAS, the selection process for Special Forces soldiers. If there is someone out there who desires to join the Green Berets, and is qualified, he is already in the process.
How was your comment regarding unilateral invasion of the sovereignty of Sudan received by your party last night, John? Where is the need for a coalition on this one? I've seen the pictures John, and you are not the candidate with a Stetson on your head. Perhaps your fantasies include cowboy clothes, in addition to military uniform.

note to DNC: Send us a credible candidate.

A father's perspective of Kerry

2004-10-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

Something has been bothering me about last night's debate between the president and the war criminal that presumes to run for President of The United States of America. I endured his smirks, and his pretty hair. I suffered his misrepresentations, and queer interpretation of world events. I watched his face as he boasted about his service in war, knowing that he is a malingerer who mutilated himself so grievously that he required a band-aid (thrice) to treat his medal winning wounds. How can John Kerry fail to understand that when we are in harms' way, our sacrifices are not his political coin? He presumes too much when he characterizes our deaths as failure. He just doesn't get it, does he? Here is a guy who surrounds himself with all the trappings of bravery and intrepidity, claiming these laurels as though he has even marginally earned them. We, in the Special Ops community, try to just shake our collective head at what we call 'posers', those who wear badges and other awards they didn't earn. This is a different case, of course, and I was at somewhat of a loss to characterize my deep feelings of revulsion for this guy. Then I saw a picture of my wife with her dad, and it was an epiphany. Here's the question then: If someone with his character qualities, and values came to my door and expected to date my daughter, how would I react?
I read Jon Krakaur's book "Into The Wild" as I was flying this week. It is the story of enormous arrogance. A young man-boy goes walking into the Alaska bush to find answers to lifes' big mysteries, and gets the only answer that he could understand. "you are a fool, and now you will be a dead fool." This is arrogance on the same scale as John Kerry presuming to run for any office, much less President of The United States of America. I don't understand why Massachusetts elected him initially. He is the wrong man, in the wrong office, at the wrong time. Why must America always suffer the Kennedy clan, and all the little toadies that want to be like them? I can only guess that they have to have politicians that are infinitely worse people than themselves, so that they can feel self-worth. This is just a guess, of course, and since I don't live there it is not my problem. When they wander from the Massachusetts statehouse, and walk upon a national stage, it becomes my problem, and yours.
I would hope that when she begins to notice boys, my daughter will be blessed with the spirit of discernment, that she will look to the heart of a man. I will raise her to respect herself so that she has the self esteem and the wisdom to recognize for what they are, the sort of slack-jawed, oxygen thief that Kerry thinks we will embrace as President, when they appear on the porch. As a dad, I hope that she makes good the choices that we, as a nation seem incapable of when electing people to represent our needs. I will be there for her when they come calling. That is my responsibility, and my blessed privilege.

Ladies and Gentlemen....It's Dawn!

2004-10-01T00:09:00.000-05:00

Due to my exciting and adventurous life, I will be "out of the net" from 5-22 October. The Army, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that my particular skill set is vital for a successful mission at the Joint Readiness Training Center located at beautiful Ft. Polk, Louisiana.

Some of you are already familiar with my friend Dawn. She is a well-spoken young lass, and will be blogging in my absence. Read her rants...they are very, very good.

Although I won't be leaving until Tuesday, I thought I'd better get the introductions out of the way. You'll really like her stuff, trust me.

Debate

2004-09-30T17:45:00.000-05:00

firstlady
Originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Tonight, at 8:00 CST, our choices go head-to-head, mano-a-mano, ketchup vs. oil. I have to admit, I have more than a passing interest in this one. I can't wait to hear Johnny explain his voting record...for or against? What do you believe exactly? Is there anything you honestly support or oppose, or are you following polls and votes?

I think the real debate would be Mrs. Bush against Mrs. Kerry. Isn't Terreezzaa a sight? Who wouldn't want her gracing the White House? Hosting state dinners? Meeting heads of state? She is a true picture of beauty and style, no doubt about it.

Hopefully the issues will be discussed in an atmosphere of good will...who am I kidding? I hope President Bush utterly destroys that creep.

Thursday Diversion

2004-09-30T00:56:00.000-05:00

CMorishita, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

Er...um...there was something I was going to say, but I seem to have forgotten...

Any Colour You Like.....

2004-09-29T17:14:00.000-05:00

orange, originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

To borrow a Dark Side of the Moon track. That is definitely a shade you don't see in nature. Orange? Burnt Umber? What say you, Crayola Man? Spray-On Tans of the World, unite!

The John Kerry Center For International Studies

2004-09-28T01:44:00.000-05:00

waffle
Originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

I sure hope Senator Kerry wins the election. He's a real smarty. He's going to give nuclear material to...IRAN. Looking for a "more sensitive" approach to a member of the Axis of Evil, no doubt. Wait, it gets better:

"Kerry holds out some hope that a negotiated solution with Iran is possible. He said the United States and other nations should 'call their bluff' by offering nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes, then taking back the spent fuel so it can't be used for weapons."

[...]

"If that process fails, the United States could try to ensure that the International Atomic Energy Agency takes the issue to the U.N. Security Council, where Iran could face sanctions."

Yes, you read that right. Go ahead and read it again, I'll wait.

Neat, huh? Take back the spent fuel. They're going to give that up....uh huh.

And when Iran does the inevitable, he'll go running to the U.N. and ask for sanctions. Those never enforced, teats-on-a-boar-hog sanctions.

Works for me.

Godspeed

2004-09-27T02:29:00.000-05:00

This weekend, I said farewell to some of the members of my unit. We are sending a company to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Although the war in Iraq is still going on, we have a commitment to the Afghan people and government.

It was hard to see them off. I spent the better part of last year with many of them in Iraq. Now, I'm the company training NCO and assistant battalion S-3 NCO. I lucked out this time by not being selected to go. In a way, I'm relieved. I've been to Iraq twice and Somalia once. I'm not the same gung-ho NCO I was when I was stationed at Bragg.

In another sense, I'm sad that I'm not going. It is hard to see your buddies off into the unknown. I stood at the door of the bus, shaking everyone's hand, hugging others. It was sad, bittersweet, and a little scary. I pray that everyone comes back O.K. and that there are no issues with the deployment. They are now at the mobilization station, getting shots, screening records, qualifying with their weapons, etc. I miss every one of them already.

We are a Psychological Operations Battalion in an Army Reserve unit (Felton and I are the handful of Active Duty soldiers among them). For those of you not familiar with PSYOP, you probably think of us as the “propaganda guys”. Kinda sorta. We like to think of ourselves as the marketing division of the U.S. Army. Our mission is to sell U.S. policy to a foreign “target audience”. Our battlefield mission is what you are most likely familiar with. We make and drop the leaflets, produce and transmit television and radio spots, make posters, disseminate information. We support the battlefield commander with loudspeaker broadcasts. We work in Prisoner of War camps, gleaning information that will save lives in combat. We are a force-multiplier.

Don’t believe the liberal media. To them, we are a load of uneducated hicks straight off the farm. Miscontents and ne’er-do-well’s who had to choose between the Army and jail. Losers who could not and would not hold down a job to save their lives. Dupes. Cannon fodder. Idiots who found a home in the service of their betters.

Most of the people I have the honor to serve with are highly intelligent. Many are college-educated or working on degrees. Several more (including me) are current or former police officers. We live, fight and train as a team.

We are a family.

While I’m on the subject, the liberals are also having fun with something they call a “backdoor draft”. Just what in the blue hell are they on about?

This is an all-volunteer force, truly the best of the best. We all swore an oath to God. We knew the risks when we joined. All service members incur an eight-year obligation when they sign on the dotted line. There are many ways to serve. 4 years active, 4 years Reserve or National Guard is one of the more popular options. Liberals starting this scare are most assuredly the fools, not the Soldiers. We know what we are getting into. If you’re joining the military and not reading your contract, woes be on your ass. I mean really, would you buy a car or a home and not read the fine print? The only people I can think of that would do such an idiotic thing and then piss and moan about it would be Democrats. They cry when things don’t go their way ALL THE TIME. Think Florida. Is that a dangling chad I see before me?

So, may God protect everyone in my unit who deployed this weekend. I look forward to seeing your happy, smiling faces and hearing your war stories when you get back.

Musings

2004-09-27T01:02:00.000-05:00

Sir Winston
Originally uploaded by schadenfreude.

So, another three human beings had their heads cut off with a knife this week. I wonder what kind of savage could actually do that to another person? How can someone sit there and listen to the screams? How can someone do this to a child's father or a mother's son? Do these people have no sense of human decency?

As time goes by, we seem to be losing our shock and disgust at these barbaric acts. I was debating with myself over whether I should post this. The ever-resourceful Felton came across this last week and gave it to me. I finally made the decision to post it after the latest spate of beheadings and at the urging of my good friend Veronica. So, without further ado, Sir Winston Churchill and his take on our nemesis:

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."

Sir Winston Churchill, speaking on the Sudan, 1899

A little direct, huh? I thought so, too. Perhaps even racist. At first blush, yes, definitely. Then I came to the conclusion that he was a product of his time. A great man, no doubt about it. First Sea Lord, Prime Minister, historian par excellance. But definitely a man of his generation. Queen, Country, Empire.

We all know that all Muslims are not the rabid hate mongers we hear about in the news. We have friends who are followers of the Prophet. They abhor violence and wish no ill to anyone.

THEN PUBLICALLY DENOUNCE THE KILLERS!

Why is this not happening? Why won't the moderate Muslims denounce the violence? Why aren't our "friends" in the Arab world helping us in this fight against oppression, hatred, and fear?

Someone please clue me in. And before you answer, think about your reaction when the towers fell, a plane smashed into the Pentagon, and passengers fought to the death on another plane and barreled it into the ground rather than allowing fanatics to crash it into the White House.