Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Is This Supposed To Scare Us?
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military conducted a successful strike into Syria on Sunday to kill a suspected al Qaeda facilitator, a U.S. official said Monday.
"We will not bow for America. No, No, No for America," reads a sign during a funeral in Syria on Monday.
The American official, who would not be identified but who has access to U.S. intelligence, identified the intended target of the attack as "Abu Ghadiya," an Iraqi whose family the official said has been active in smuggling money, weapons and foreign fighters across the Syrian border into Iraq.
Syrian foreign minister Waleed Mouallem disputed the explanation.
"This is lies from the United States," Mouallem said.
Earlier, Mouallem had said at a news conference in London, England, that the United States violated international law and Syrian sovereignty.
"Killing civilians in international law means terrorist aggression," he said. "We consider this criminal and terrorist aggression."
The U.S. official, who asked to remain anonymous because of the classified nature of the operation, also confirmed that U.S. helicopters and military special operations forces carried out the attack.
Further acts of aggression will not be tolerated, Mouallem said. "If they do it again, we will defend our territories," he said.
Oooh, I'm so scared! Look at me, I'm trembling!
"We will not bow for America. No, No, No for America," reads a sign during a funeral in Syria on Monday.
The American official, who would not be identified but who has access to U.S. intelligence, identified the intended target of the attack as "Abu Ghadiya," an Iraqi whose family the official said has been active in smuggling money, weapons and foreign fighters across the Syrian border into Iraq.
Syrian foreign minister Waleed Mouallem disputed the explanation.
"This is lies from the United States," Mouallem said.
Earlier, Mouallem had said at a news conference in London, England, that the United States violated international law and Syrian sovereignty.
"Killing civilians in international law means terrorist aggression," he said. "We consider this criminal and terrorist aggression."
The U.S. official, who asked to remain anonymous because of the classified nature of the operation, also confirmed that U.S. helicopters and military special operations forces carried out the attack.
Further acts of aggression will not be tolerated, Mouallem said. "If they do it again, we will defend our territories," he said.
Oooh, I'm so scared! Look at me, I'm trembling!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Great Quotes VII
No one thought of letting the people rule; politics was - as always - a contest of minorities to determine which should rule the majority.
- Will Durant, The Age of Reason Begins
- Will Durant, The Age of Reason Begins
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Night Office
My night job involves a lot of driving between the offices and restrooms I have to clean.
Initially, I was trying to get in evening prayer by taking a break in one of the offices and reading from my copy of the Liturgy of the Hours. But I realized that was really stealing from my boss, who isn't paying me to pray. So I started saying the rosary as I drive. At first, it was just the usual five decades of one set of mysteries. Now, I try to say all four sets of mysteries (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious).
Of course, with all that I am doing, I often lose track of just where I am. I am sure I don't get all the Hail Mary's in, or I say too many. But I figure this bootleg rosary is better than indulging my own wicked thoughts or listening to talk radio.
Initially, I was trying to get in evening prayer by taking a break in one of the offices and reading from my copy of the Liturgy of the Hours. But I realized that was really stealing from my boss, who isn't paying me to pray. So I started saying the rosary as I drive. At first, it was just the usual five decades of one set of mysteries. Now, I try to say all four sets of mysteries (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious).
Of course, with all that I am doing, I often lose track of just where I am. I am sure I don't get all the Hail Mary's in, or I say too many. But I figure this bootleg rosary is better than indulging my own wicked thoughts or listening to talk radio.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
New Blog
I have decided to start blogging about this new Depression we seem to be entering. Hopefully, it will be for naught and I can erase the blog when we all realize that these latest problems were just minor "corrections" and economic recovery and prosperity were always right around the corner.
The link is at the right. In the meantime, if you can spare a dime, have you noticed my books for sale? Have you seen my four kids? The books are good. I swear.
The link is at the right. In the meantime, if you can spare a dime, have you noticed my books for sale? Have you seen my four kids? The books are good. I swear.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
1972 or 1976?
This election reminds me of these two previous elections:
the Nixon administration, which represented (rightly or wrongly) an unpopular war and a conservative morality that took no part in the counterculture movement and "free-love" revolution
or
Incumbent Gerald Ford, who had replaced Nixon after the latter's scandalous second term was cut short by an impending impeachment
or
Former US Senator and Georgia governor Jimmy Carter.
The voters threw out the Republicans and elected Carter. After a few years in office, especially after the hostage crisis began, the public began to change it's mind aboout it's decision. They looked back over Carter's term and recalled his sad, serious face telling them time and again of one depressing event or another about which we could do little to stop : the oil crisis, the hostage crisis, Billy Carter ... :-)
1972
The electorate had to choose between
the Nixon administration, which represented (rightly or wrongly) an unpopular war and a conservative morality that took no part in the counterculture movement and "free-love" revolutionor
challenger George McGovern, who was seen as leading (rightly or wrongly) a rambunctious crowd of hippies and defeatists.
Nixon was reelected, winning over 60% of the popular vote and in nearly all the states, by the famous "Silent Majority", who rejected the McGovern campaign's perceived defeatism and lack of respect for America.
Nixon was reelected, winning over 60% of the popular vote and in nearly all the states, by the famous "Silent Majority", who rejected the McGovern campaign's perceived defeatism and lack of respect for America.
1976
The electorate had to choose between
Incumbent Gerald Ford, who had replaced Nixon after the latter's scandalous second term was cut short by an impending impeachmentor
Former US Senator and Georgia governor Jimmy Carter. The voters threw out the Republicans and elected Carter. After a few years in office, especially after the hostage crisis began, the public began to change it's mind aboout it's decision. They looked back over Carter's term and recalled his sad, serious face telling them time and again of one depressing event or another about which we could do little to stop : the oil crisis, the hostage crisis, Billy Carter ... :-)
More than anything, I think, the silent majority was disturbed by Carter philosophy, which seemed inward-looking, limiting and sad. Early in his term, Carter had said:
"We have learned that more is not necessarily better, that even our great nation has its recognized limits, and that we can neither answer all questions nor solve all problems."
In 1980, this did not contrast well with the red, white and blue hopefulness and high flown rhetoric of Ronald Reagan.
The only question I have is: is the silent majority (if it even exists) still patriotic and naturally conservative, or has the majority of the country converted to materialism and modernism? Is the core of the country still proud to be an American, or are we just a bunch of people who want free abortions, euthanasia and nationalized health care?
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