Kenneth Bae (L) reunites with his family at U.S. Air Force Joint Base Lewis-McChord
in Fort Lewis, Washington November 8, 2014. CREDIT: REUTERS/DAVID RYDER
From Denny: Finally, President Obama decided to be more discreet in his negotiations for and retrieval of U. S. hostages without the need to dance a celebration on his enemy's head. It's important to refrain from those celebration dances as all it does is enrage and encourage yet another hostage situation.
As both a Marine and Air Force veteran with 50 years experience in the intelligence community (IC) DNI James Clapper wasthe perfect choice for the job. Why? Because a White House official or a State Department official would have been perceived as talking heads for President Obama.
Besides, it's been tradition for decades that the more talented - and those possessing integrity engendering trust - have worked international negotiations in an unofficial diplomatic role that then easily paves the way for the State Department to gain the glory. It's when the IC is at its best instead of relentless needless spying. Developing relationships with people on a global scale is the way to create Peace, not endless spying that doesn't yield much useful information to help resolve issues...
The perfect holiday message: "may you have a happy, merry holiday season."
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Fellow WHINERS: Russia's Putin and Harry Potter's Dobby The House Elf
From Denny: The Russians are so amusing, forever entertaining us. The Russians are so desperate to be taken seriously on the world stage yet are failing miserably every time they open their noisy lying mouths, whether Putin speaks directly or sends out pathetic surrogates. Russia continues to behave like the naughtiest child in the global family, content to receive negative attention, harsh discipline like sanctions and head-shaking disapproving dirty looks. Yeah, read that as the world community is collectively giving Russia "The Stink Eye..."
More phone cases and iPad cases available in this funny design from Louisiana artist Denny Lyon.
Campy "Welcome to Louisiana: where vampires, werewolves and fairies get respect!"
Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new! And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort! You rock! Currently, proceeds go to Greater BR Food Bank and St. Jude's Children's Hospital - both groups do some really great humanitarian work.
A masked Islamic State British militant holding a knife speaks next to man purported to be U.S. journalist James Foley at an unknown location /REUTERS
From Denny: Well, the Ferguson "Race Riots" were originally on my posting agenda but the military is fussing and cussing so vociferously about President Obama taking a victory lap and exposing details on the failed hostage rescue yet again this post took precedence. What is the matter with the political hacks of this Obama White House? Are they so depraved they don't realize how many people they have now condemned to death all because they wanted to prop up the President's sagging poll numbers? Is their reasoning "it's better to look like the President is doing something and failed at the ISIL hostage rescue than to be perceived as doing nothing?"
And this is why after winning a second term every President needs to send home his political team and get a real team that is serious about proper governing. You just can't take political people and transform them into governing people. Why? Because when the political heat is on they revert to their default programming.
The same is true for Sec. of State John Kerry taking his people to the State Department. Political teams do not know how to interface effectively with diplomats of other countries or even of their own country. It sure shows too as Sec. Kerry keeps coming home with so little in the win category. His political people really don't know how to do the months and months of negotiations to set it up successfully so the Sec. of State can take his victory lap easily.
Sec. Kerry has six floors of seasoned State Department folks at his disposal, yet most are left with nothing significant to do every day. They can't all be political backstabbers and clueless trust fund babies. There must be dozens of qualified professionals in the bunch that can be a real help. Quit allowing your political people to sideline your best people, elbowing them out of the work.
And back to the White House political hacks who are equally clueless and incompetent, elbowing out of the room the competent people who are eager to help this President. What is it with all this self-aggrandizement of this President at the risk of getting current and future U. S. hostages killed? All these political hacks are doing is making the job of hostage rescuers even more difficult than it already stands. Political hacks are risking the lives of current and future hostages. This White House already created terrible damage when they foolishly detailed the Bin Laden takedown. What should they have really said? How about this: "Notice: Bin Laden is dead. He was killed by a woman: Lady Karma. Enough said."
The last thing you do is take a victory lap just to prove you are engaged and doing something behind the scenes. It really looks so selfish and insensitive. It cheapens the Presidency too. When you win against an opponent on the international stage the worst thing to do is brag about it or stomp on their heads one more time. It's immature at best - and gets too many people killed at worst.
And another thing: Quit releasing so much information to my fellow media about which Special Forces it was, how many helicopters, what weapons, operational details of any kind. It's stupid to expose systems and processes, making the next raid that much more difficult to accomplish without harm to our soldiers or the hostages. All you have to say is something like this: "We have been working hard behind the scenes at bringing home our hostages. More updates when the situation changes."
Note to White House: Quit thinking politically and get it in gear thinking about others beside yourselves. Don't make me collect my Louisiana baseball bat and travel up to Washington, D. C. just to take a few whacks on the fools that thought this political stunt was such a good idea. They should be fired, retired or put out to pasture - preferably all three options. Note to my military friends and dragon warriors risking their lives and planning these operations: Consider the White House properly yelled at for this disgraceful act of self-aggrandizement that continues to cheapen the Presidency and erode trust with the public, the armed services and the intelligence communities.
Helping homeless female military veterans come home - currently, profits go to local food bank as that reaches military families, military veterans and civilians too.
* * * Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new! And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort! You rock!
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Volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi Army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), gather with their weapons during a parade on the streets in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, June 16, 2014. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani
From Denny: While the U.S. Congress rings its collective hands about how to stem the violenceerupting in Iraq, everyone is missing the point. Too many Republican politicians are trying to force a military return to Iraq in order to please their war profiteering defense contractors that support their campaign war chests.
Everyone is shoving bad advice President Obama's way, mostly to support that idiot Shi'ite puppet government that President Bush 43 installed. This is the same Shi'ite government that aligned itself with Iran to be their puppet instead of the U.S. puppet. This same Shi'ite government shut out the Sunni faction from participating in its own government. Is it any surprise the Sunnis went rogue?...
From Denny: Europe's military and EU politicians, most notably Germany, are making the very same mistakes that were made during the lead up to World War Two: appeasement of a world bully hell bent on expansionism as a strategy for land grabs and natural resource hoarding.
The same propaganda lies are employed in this generation as previously: "Oh, our ethnic population in foreign lands need us to come rescue them from their host countries." The names of the villains have changed but the strategy and ruthlessness remain the same. In this generation, instead of Germany on the march, it's Russia that is on the march across Europe, claiming to first make a short stop and "rescue" ethnic Russians in former Soviet satellite countries.
Once Putin is done conquering his nearest - and very weak - neighbors he plans to move across all of Europe. He'sgambling that NATO is too weak and indecisive to oppose him. Will NATO prove him right in his assessment? Stay tuned. Right now, countries like Germany, France, the UK and Italy are too slow to react to Putin's aggression, comfortable in the false belief they will not ever be attacked because they are trading partners and of great benefit to him. Wake up, Europe, and run from your comfort zone. "Why trade with a country when Russia can outright own them?" is Putin's thinking right now...
FloralBlush: Enjoy wrapping up in Spring's first blush of azalea blooms to chase away the winter blues! Design available on all sizes bedding, clocks, mugs, handbags and totes, t-shirts and more, come see!
Vladimir Putin - Olympic Host (Photo credit: DonkeyHotey)
Come On, Really? Fake Crimea Parliament and Referendum? How World Is Fighting Back From Denny: First Putin appoints his Ukraine puppet government. That same puppet then sets about to decimate down the 180,000 man Ukraine military to almost mere symbolic window dressing.
Then it's safe for Putin to invade and build his troops to massive strength to overwhelm the Ukraine military remnants that have been reorganized to a level of 6,000 combat ready veterans for a National Guard. Remember, back in the 1994 treaty, Ukraine gave up its Soviet nuclear weapons, and, rightfully so, expect from the world more than just lip service and token sanctions against Russia. With 200,000 Russian troops on their eastern border, Ukraine only has 41,000 infantry total remaining to defend themselves. Their air force is outnumbered 100 to one.
Putin's most significant latest stupid move was to chase off the original regional government in Crimea. He arbitrarily appointed his own yes men once his initial 16,000 armed masked men stormed the region. Those troops are now swelled to 41,000to 61,000 armed masked men holding hostage the entire country of 46 million. It's now widely believed that it was Putin who sent in snipers to create the Feb. 18-20 bloodbath in Kiev that removed from power his own chosen Russian puppet Yanokovich. Putin needed an excuse to invadeand invade he did...
While I appreciate the raw courage of Russians, this is one of those times where undisciplined courage has not served them well. This is exactly the area in which I've tried to counsel Russia to choose a wiser course against being too easy to provoke...
It's bad enough Israel has its long reach tentacles into ourpoorly managed NSA anda stranglehold on our intelligence community, now it's Congress. Enough. Stay out of interfering in our national politics, Israel, before we all give you the bum's rush out of the room permanently. Or, to quote cheeky Stephen Colbert, "You aren't the boss of me!"
Are there a number of problems wooing this new relationship with a vicious regime after 34 years of throwing feces at each other like a room full of gregarious chattering monkeys? Oh, yeah...
Host Jon Stewart in the studio of The Daily Show in 2004 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
4 funny Daily Show video clips. From Denny: Can this rush to join in on the Syrian civil war get any weirder? President Obama, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Sec. Kerry created a new White House pagejust to sell this new American war. It looks like it was hastily pulled together like some lame corporate power point presentation.
It's loaded with a short timeline, a few videos, press statement links and some of the properly slanted unclassified intelligence assessment pointing to chemical weapons use. Of course, it looks like just more of a slick political campaign to influence the public. Give it up, guys, this page won't convince anyone.
Welcome to The Club, Russia, America is fed up with the lying coming out of this administration on a whole host of issues. Of course, Russia and America often lie to each other and their peoples. Russia also has some serious self-interest in Syria like a Russian naval base and collecting the fun profits of selling Assad plenty of military weaponry. I wonder what Israel and America have been selling Syria? After this Liars Face Off the public figures all bets are off.
In avery contentious hearing with Congress, arrogant Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dempsey rejected Kerry's invitation to support him with Congress, to offer a statement. What did Dempsey say? In a I-don't-answer-to-these-fools huff he answered sharply, "No! I don't think so." The 18-second clip from the Daily Show follows below...
Possible career military protesting Syrian intervention?
From Denny: Have you ever noticed how many Presidents, when first elected, catch the Washington War Virus once in office? No matter how many speeches they give laying claim to being anti-war they puff up their chests and start with the bombing to assert American power in the world.
The Pentagon loves to sell this Prove Our Might line of reasoning in every generation to every President, enjoying a hundred percent success for the past 60 years. These Presidents getinfected with Stupid, adding a side meal of Absolute Power like a dish of pickle relish...
English: Bashar al-Assad official portrait by Carlos Latuff (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
From Denny: What would Dr. Martin Luther King, the famous advocate of non-violence, do about this critical moment in America's history? Who is manipulating President Obama to remove Assad by violence so someone hidden out of sight can take power? These are the type of questions no one seems to be asking themselves in the American government.
What if the chemical attacks were done by terrorist groups like the Taliban, al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood that have infiltrated the Syrian rebels - or infiltrated the Assad regime? What if those terrorist groups were using the photos of dead children to so enrage the West that America would easily be manipulated into attacking the Assad regime, disabling its most potent weaponry and military might?
The way of a terrorist mind is to figure out how to leverage a position of inferior numbers and an inferior strategic position. What could be better than to leverage two large powers to go at each other's throats to destroy their credibility in the world - America - and remove a weak Islamic secular government from power- Assad?
Then the terrorists, who have successfully infiltrated most if not all of the rebel groups - rise in the power vacuum when Assad is killed or set aside. Worst case scenario the terrorists/rebels cannot hold power immediately but manage to abscond with all manner of dangerous weapons for resale on the black market or for use in terrorist operations...
Wear your Peace Crown to "be the change you want to see in the world."
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Map of the territory and area covered by present-day Saudi Arabia and Arab League countries.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
From Denny: While the American public is polling as against military intervention in Syria, the Pentagon and President Obama are busy planning to do it anyway. They never listen to the will of the people. A good 60 percent of Americans want nothing to do with war in Syria. Only a mere nine percent support going into Syria. Who are these people? Must be the Lobbyist Caucus.
Military intervention should be the business of the 21-member Arab League with Saudi Arabia perfectly capable of the necessary missile strikes (with over 300 combat aircraft) and other Middle East countries as this is their region of the world. Even non-member Turkey which is nearby has over 1500 aircraft capable of intervening. Why not send Israel who would relish the job? They are the leading military might in the Middle East. That certainly would prove nothing if not interesting.
Why should struggling American taxpayers pay $1.2 million per cruise missile to end the Assad regime? Syria is a member of the Arab League and the other members (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt) should be reigning in Syria that possesses about 450 combat aircraft. To give you perspective as to why the Pentagon loves to flex its military might every chance it gets: America has about 15,000 aircraft. The UK only has about 1400 aircraft. It's all about The Boys and their Big Toys. The ugly reality is these toys kill.
We all know the Pentagon and its war profiteers will not be content to stop at firing off just a few handy cruise missiles. They and Scream For Blood Congress will demand the next step of committing troops into Syria and here we are at yet another Middle East war the American people never wanted but are forced to fight and pay for one more time. President Assad is a dead man any way you look at it because his own people will kill him eventually. We all know that said cruise missiles will also create a huge amount of unintended consequences - like killing more children than the chemical attack did...
Suspects are rounded up near a burnt annex building at the Rabaa Adawiya mosque in Cairo on Aug. 15. Photo: Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters
From Denny: Violence erupts in Egypt. The knee jerk reaction is the Pentagon howls about what they might be in jeopardy of losing. The Pentagon never does get their priorities right. So, President Obama hurriedly does the Pentagon's bidding and rushes out onto the international stage to make their case before he fully understands Egypt.
The State Department is collectively wringing their hands that Egypt might become another Syria with years of civil war on the horizon. And the rest of the world is shaking their head at the inept policies coming out of the American government that seems to be rudderless in addition to clueless.
Here are the principle players in this international drama: the Muslim Brotherhood, the people of Egypt who want a secular government and peace with their neighbors, the Pentagon and Big Business defense contractors. Here is Egypt's current situation in a nutshell summary:
Wear your Peace Crown to "be the change you want to see in the world."
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From Denny: What was supposed to be a Congressional hearing to discover what happened in Benghazi, Libya when the Ambassador was killed by terrorists - and how to prevent it from happening again - turned into a 2016 Political Showoff Fest.
Hillary Clinton was present for all the right reasons but she had little company from the rest of Congress. The Republicans pulled out all the stops to literally stop Sec. of State Hillary Clinton from daring to run for President in 2016.
Of course, the Republicans believe themselves to be legends in their own minds, especially Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky. This guy bristled as he soundly condemned and blamed Sec. Clinton for "the worst thing to befall America since 9/11," saying, "If I were President I would have fired you immediately." The Tea Party darling is a lousy politician, thinking he could dance on the head of one of the most popular politicians - and one of the most admired women in American history - and still run for higher national office. He killed whatever prospects he might have enjoyed in his imagination. You would think for an ophthalmologist the man could see better down the road than he does.
Other Republican Senators and Congressmen thought this was their huge opportunity to showcase their "talents." In their minds a grateful nation would see things as they do. Nothing could be farther from the truth as they literally farted from their mouths they were so foul in their grandstanding, especially Sen. Johnson from Wisconsin, Sen. McCain from Arizona - the Senate's notorious crank who no longer makes sense - and the finger-wagging self-righteous Rep. Duncan from South Carolina. They all acted like bigoted angry misogynists. Every woman in America watched this miscarriage of government, rolled our eyes and then turned off to their politics.
From Denny: Whoever thought the GOP and the Russians could ally together politically? What an international scandal. :) Yes, the Republicans and the Russians both hate U.N. Amb. Susan Rice as the president's choice for replacing Sec. of State Hillary Clinton. Hey, if the Russians don't want Rice then there is only one thing to do: hire her immediately.
Whoever heard of the Russians weighing in on who America decides to put in as Sec. of State? That is a serious red flag in my book. It's unprecedented. Of course, the fact Putin felt he had to "voice his wishes" signals Putin is afraid of a strong woman capable of outmaneuvering him. Like I said, hire her immediately. It's clear she is capable of pushing back hard against the dictators of the world - and wins. It's wonderful she gives them all headaches. Geaux, girl!
From Denny: What is it about how the Republicans keep putting up one bad candidate after another? The whole point of interacting with other world leaders is to cultivate at least the veneer of a polished and smooth sociability.
Obama has that "X" Factor - at least on the surface - and Mitt Romney decidedly does not have it - on the surface or deeper. George Bush 43 didn't have it at all either. He was downright vacuous. Even nice Ike Eisenhower was known for his salty language and terribly confused communication, comprised of broken disjointed sentences, that the press was forever cleaning up before delivering his message to the public.
Yet America keeps on electing the socially awkward and the relationship insensitive. Looks like Romney is well on his way to the White House. He sure is trotting around the globe this past week meeting with world leaders like a trial run. And the Obama presidency was an anomaly that looks like it is soon to be corrected by disgruntled voters.
*** Original post from http://thesocialpoets.blogspot.com ***
From Denny: Sagging poll numbers for President Obama has sent him off in the direction most presidents run trying to grab some greatness, this time in the form of the famous Middle East Peace talks. This week Obama kept to the usual American rhetoric of "so, give back the land you took in 1967" strategy that the past three presidents have also tried to sell to no avail.
In case you were not alive in 1967 - or watching the news the past 30 years or maybe living under a rock - Israel did a huge land grab in 1967, taking the Sinai peninsula, the Golan Heights and the West Bank. To make peace with Egypt they gave back the Sinai.
Of course, in Israel the American idea does not play well since they believe their current borders help protect them. They say they need the Golan Heights for water and the West Bank for expanding population.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians are still ticked off and wanting their land returned, emboldened by the Arab Spring revolutions invigorating several countries across the Middle East.
And, true to their famous stubbornness, Israel says any negotiation about Jerusalem is off the table. Well, considering the latest End of Days prophets in the media lately, maybe that's a good idea. After all, when true peace comes to Jerusalem then they can start rebuilding the Temple and we all know that's when the true End of the World happens, according to scripture. So, just maybe it's a good idea Jerusalem is off the table these days so we all can put off - again - the End of Days. :)
Seriously, though, it appears President Obama and Team Obama are clueless as to how to handle this tough situation. Making public appearances, giving speeches, acting like the political football is in play when it isn't just won't work any more with this generation. Both sides are dug in and both perceptions are intractable.
I have a marvelous out-of-the-box yet historical idea of how to solve the problem. It's radical and either both sides will agree or both sides will run in opposite directions. Hey, there's nothing like bold diplomacy, right?
How about you readers take a moment and think of a bold idea of your own as to how the world can solve this long term problem in the Middle East. For the funnier side, try figuring out what solution I have in mind.
Clues:
Yes, it's an historical solution that Israel has done in the past.
Yes, it's bold.
Yes, it's controversial.
Yes, it actually could work.
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North Korea bombs its neighbor to get the attention of a weary, and increasingly indifferent, world.
Heir to North Korea Kim Jong un - AP photo
From Denny: This week North Korea shelled a small island, Yeonpyeong Island, off South Korea for three hours. After the relentless and merciless shelling, the islanders evacuated. This weekend, North Korea shelled the island yet again - only this time there were no people left to harm.
Normally, South Korea takes the temper tantrums of "the crazy uncle from the North" in stride, not reacting. But there is a game changer these days, a new sheriff in town: the crazy out-of-control son has taken over the helm of the crazy uncle.
From Denny: In my ongoing effort to keep from cluttering up The Social Poets, after all, this is my third post today... here's a link over at Dennys Global Politicsblog to what Hillary is doing that is quite popular now globally! It is so refreshing to have people in government who are actually serious about carrying out government in a way to connect with the people they serve...
Thanks for visiting! Just got back from my out of town sales calls today and am back at the keyboard posting... :) Happy Monday!
* * * Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new! And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort! You rock!
* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. *
*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
