Car Bombs in London, Blaming to Begin

Although the car bombs were found in London, it is a guarantee that US politicians will jump on the opportunity to sling some mud at each other.

Democrats will blame the Republican Administration. Democrats will accuse the Republicans of acting unilaterally in Iraq and causing a breeding ground of terrorism. If you didn't know, to follow this argument, you have to believe, like many in the Muslim world, that Tony Blair, and the UK in general, is George Bush's puppet.

Republicans will counter that if Islamic terrorism was taken seriously in the previous administration, specifically after the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. The thought process here is that Democrats are soft on national security and how can you trust Democrats with the security of the country. The Democrats, specifically Barack Obama, believes he can use his slick tongue to diplomatically negotiate the Islamic terrorists out of their nasty bombing and killing habits.

Either way, the mud will start slinging across Democratic and Republican lines soon. Politicians see each news story as an opportunity to spin it such that they have the answer and their opponent if elected will spawn certain doom for the American way of life.

Massachusetts Healthcare Test Case About to Begin

Next month starts the beginning of a new era of healthcare in America. Massachusetts is the first state to institute a universal healthcare system in the US.

Although the coverage isn't going to be universal as initially planned.

Our goal is [to cover] 85 percent of the uninsured...that goal would mean coverage for nearly 99 percent of the state's overall population.

Still, 99 percent is a noble effort.

There are other drawbacks, it will make small businesses (those with over 10 employees) think twice about hiring people. Some small business owners say they've decided not to hire employees.

Pure capitalists never like the idea of government in any kind of business. But it is government meddling that created this healthcare problem. After WWII there was a shortage of workers, so to attract workers companies would offer healthcare as a bonus. The government helped out by offering tax breaks for companies that offered healthcare.

This did two things, it made healthcare costs increase, and made healthcare outside of company provided hard to obtain for a reasonable price.

The capitalist answer would be to remove the tax breaks (and they have to some extent) but it hasn't gone far enough, and it will take time.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA)or Medical Savings Accouts (MSA) is another wonderful capitalist answer.

Massachusetts seems to have struck a balance between left and right, so it may be a good compromise.

The Bay State plan has skeptics and detractors on both left and right. Supporters say that fact hints at the plan's balance – and at why it might succeed.

The plan represents a compromise of ideas proposed by Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, now out of office and running for president, and Democratic lawmakers.

"It's coming right down the middle," says Jonathan Gruber, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who helped shape the Massachusetts plan. "It's sort of an American approach to universal coverage."

Either way, with healthcare costs growing too fast and the last of company healthcare plans, all eyes will be on the Massachusetts healthcare model.

Sudan-China's Colony

CSMonitor.com article.

China is using a scorched earth policy to suck the life out of Sudan. The interesting point will be when China is no longer interested in Sudanese oil because China has sucked the country dry. At that point the oppressed will have it way with the Sudanese leadership. Without the Chinese to protect them and the money to pay for their mercenaries, their only option left will be exile. By then the UN will have so many 'crimes against humanity' levied against these oppressors that they won't have anywhere to turn to for their exile...and don't expect China to welcome them.

China's National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)...has invested billions in oil-related infrastructure here in [Sudan].

But they have not invested in much else here.

Locals live in meager huts, eating peanuts with perch fished out of the contaminated Nile. There is no electricity. A Swiss charity provides healthcare. An American aid group flies in food and mosquito nets. Most children do not go to school. There is no work to be found. Petrodar [a Chinese oil company], for one, has its own workers – almost all of whom are foreigners (mostly Chinese, Malaysians, and Qataris) or Sudanese northerners. The consortium hires Paloich residents only rarely, for menial jobs.

But do the locals see what is going on? Do they blame China or thier own corrupt leadership?

Locals blame their lot on oppression by Sudan's Islamist government and the long war with the north. But they also blame the Chinese.

"[The Chinese] moved us away so we would not see what was going on. They were stealing our oil and they knew it," says Abraham Thonchol, a rebel-turned-pastor who grew up near Paloich. "Oil is valuable and we are not idiots. We were expecting something."

But how is this any different than what the US does in places with oil?

US-based Chevron was the first oil company to arrive here, setting up operations in the 1980s. "They employed us," says Mr. Thonchol. "We helped with the drilling, drove them around, and worked as cooks. "

As long as China has crooked leaders to turn to like Sudan and even Iran, they will always have their access to oil. The curiosity is if their shady deals will ever catch up with them like it is most certainly the corrupt leaders they court.

The GOP in '08?

Believe it or not, a GOP president in 2008 could be a reality according to Richard Cohen.

The war in Iraq is not -- or not yet -- an issue for Republicans. With the exception of Ron Paul and, more recently, Jim Gilmore, they all more or less support the president. It is among the Democrats that the war is a divisive issue -- John Edwards sniping at Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Obama sniping at Edwards and Clinton. Everyone now opposes the war, but the issue is not so much their positions as the intensity of their feelings. Antiwar Democrats in key primary and caucus states, particularly New Hampshire and Iowa, will not vote for a lukewarm antiwar candidate. This explains why Clinton recently reversed herself and voted to end funding for the war. The one Democratic presidential candidate from the Senate who did not was Joseph Biden. He said he opposed the war but saw no choice but to fund the troops.

So if Iowa and New Hampshire set the tone, the far left of the Democratic party will have the poll position in the race to the White House.

This doesn't bode well for the Democrats. The far left of the party has never been elected, much like the far right of the GOP has never been elected.

Cohen points out that when push comes to shove, with or without the Iraq War, there is still a vicious enemy out there and looking soft on defense is not the answer. As much a Barack Obama would like to think that his slick appearance and quick tongue is the answer in the form of diplomacy, it isn't.

When people like Obama talk about negotiations with some of the enemies the US currently faces, it makes him look pathetically naive. Cohen also points out that by default Hillary will look soft on defense simply because she is a girl. I disagree, because I don't think there are many out there as cut throat as Hillary-just ask Vince Foster.

Time Not on Sudan's Side

Prior to 1990 Sudan was in dire straits in terms of income. Since then oil has provided generous profits for Sudan. But how long will it last. As China's economy continues to grow its demand for oil will grow also, and once Sudan is out of oil, where will Sudan be then.

The country's original and most reliable oilfields, which produce valuable low-sulphur crude marketed as Nile Blend, are maturing. Their output dropped from a peak of 300,000-odd b/d in early 2005 to 254,000 b/d in the first quarter of this year. Prospects for pushing production back up using better oil-recovery techniques are poor, and this dip will be only partly offset by output from new fields that have begun to be exploited in Sudan's south.

This doesn't bode well for Sudan. For one thing, Sudan needs the income, another reason is because Sudan hides from the UN behind its oil sales to China. China acts as Sudan's big brother at the big table and waters down any sanctions that may come from the UN Security Council.



Even with China at the big table to do its bidding, the humanitarian efforts might be having an effect.

Many of the big Western oil companies are being scared off by the prospect of more sanctions and humanitarian divestment campaigns over Darfur.

Once the oil is gone look for China to discontinue its support of Sudan. Once that happens and Sudan loses its oil income will the world step in to stop the genocide in Darfur? Don't expect it.

China Considers Sending Peacekeeping Troops to Darfur-Chicken Farmers Send in Foxes

What exactly does China plan on doing with these "peacekeeping troops" that they plan on sending in?

Liu lashed out Thursday at critics who have accused China of backing the Sudanese government because of Chinese oil interests there. The actress Mia Farrow and other activists have branded the 2008 Beijing Games as the "genocide Olympics," trying to force China into pressuring Sudanese leaders.

Oh, I can't believe I'm saying this, but, Bravo, Mia!



This is probably the only reason that China would consider sending in troops to a country that they've been vehemently defending at the UN by blocking meaningful measures against Sudan.

With the heavy investments China has made, it has come to be viewed as a power broker in Sudan, which exports two-thirds of its oil output to China. As one of the five permanent UN Security Council members with veto power, China has opposed harsh measures against Sudan over the Darfur violence.

Mr. Liu is starting to sound like Baghdad Bob, Saddam Hussein's Information Minister. Do the Chinese actually believe this propaganda they are excreting? It smells like excrement.

Liu defended Chinese efforts to bring calm to Darfur. "Even the United States has to admit that we've played a positive role," he said. "We've tried our best."

The Chinese should be embarrassed. If they were smart they'd just pony up the forces and shut up about it. When you are that guilty, you are better off remaining silent until your lawyer shows up. Any good lawyer at this point would tell China to shut up so he can begin the plea bargaining.



The West has a very small window to push China on the Olympic Games, it needs to use that bargaining chip to the fullest. Bowing out would send a strong message.

A Voice of Reason in the Islamic World

Irshad Manji calls out the people running the Islamic religion in The Australian. His story is an inwardly critical look at the Islamic religion.

The problem is that his voice will be squashed in the Islamic world much like Salman Rushdie's voice is. Oh, and by the way, the way Islamic leaders would like to silence Rushdie is by killing him.

It would be nice if the Islamic world opened itself to honest debate. But that will be harder to come by.

A 56-member council of Islamic countries pushed the UN Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution against the "defamation of religion". Pakistan led the charge. Focused on Islam rather than on faith in general, the resolution allows repressive regimes to squelch freedom of conscience further - and to do so in the guise of international law.

Even the US allows nutcases like Michael Moore to go on rants every couple of years. And then there is Rosie O'Donnell, it would be entertaining to see just how well a homosexual woman would get along in the Muslim world she defends to vehemently.

Either way, at least in the US we still have the ability to speak out no matter how crazy the ideas may be.

Finally, the Americans Take the Offensive

For too long the US has sat back and let the war come to them. At last the US is taking the offensive.

To win this war, the US needs to establish itself as the leviathan. And that will only come with increasing violence on the part of the Americans.

Aid and rebuilding is important, but the way operations need to be arranged, that should come after the enemy is subdued. Otherwise, the US is aiding the enemy by not allocating enough resources for the fight.

If you look at this list of Principles of War, you will see that Offensive-seize, retain, and exploit the initiative, has been severely neglected by the US.

What was the first clue? It was the looting that occurred in April 2003. The US should have planned for this through a branch and sequel. Instead, all the way from the Secretary of Defense on down, the US military looked like it was caught with its pants down.

Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, should have put in the number of troops his military said was needed, 300,000 to 500,000, and declared martial law immediately. The US had to establish itself as the leviathan. Instead we didn't have enough troops to contain the chaos and the insurgents saw this as a green light to organize and begin their operations.

Time for US to Disengage, Not Just From Iraq

Although Carl Minzner pleads for the US to remain engaged and avoid isolationism, there is nothing for the US to gain by remaining engaged in a post Iraq world.

US Diplomacy and economic measures are useless in coercing an enemy like Iran if there is no credible military threat. The entire world knows the US would never engage in military action against Iran. And this becomes even more true if someone as naive as Barack Obama were to be elected. At least Hillary Clinton can play hard ball.

A public perception grew that the US had been manipulated into war, not only by a president with an overly simplistic and moralistic view of the world, but also by a cabal of business interests that actually profited from the conflict.

This passage isn't describing George Bush, but a Democrat, Woodrow Wilson. Minzner describes how isolationists exploited this opportunity and eventually cause WWII because of isolationist policies. Yes, this may be true, but without the threat of military action and less effective diplomacy and economic positions will render the US impotent whether it is isolationist or not. Either way, the evil forces of the world will cast aside the US.

America needs to reassert its positive role at the heart of multilateral institutions and alliances.

Is this the Kyoto agreement that Minzner is talking about? Yes, US policy is condemned by the liberal American apologist point of view. Unless the US is doling out money or stripping away its power, the American apologist condemns American policy.

Democrats and Republicans need to reassert bipartisanship in foreign policy.

The authorization to use force in Iraq was bipartisan. Someone need to remind Mr. Minzner of this fact.

Overall, isolationism may be just what the US, and the world, needs at this point in history. The Minzners of the world naively believe diplomacy and aid are the great elixir to the world's ills. Unfortunately, without the credible threat of military action, diplomacy and aid have little to no effect.

People will continue to die in Darfur because the rest of the world is not willing to use military force. The Sudanese government will continue to get money from selling oil to China and China will continue to block diplomatic efforts to secure Darfur. So until the world is willing to take the military steps necessary to secure Darfur, people in Darfur will continue to be brutalized.

The US has no other option than to become isolationist. Even if it does try to other avenues to influence the world, without the credible military threats, the US efforts will most likely be in vain.

Nifong-Good for America

If Doctors have malpractice, what do lawyers have? Everybody should have some kind of oversight. For the longest time Lawyers in America have had too little oversight. Yes, there is the American Bar Association, but lawyers don't go after lawyers enough.

One of the first threats people will throw out is, "I'm going to talk to my lawyer." This phrase is threatened to just about anyone in any field-except the legal field.

Americans have little leverage against prosecutorial misconduct-especially if they don't have the financial resources the Duke lacrosse players did.

Besides a lawyer who do you use to go after a corrupt lawyer?

Add to the fact that Michael Nifong was a lawyer, he was also a politician-the worst of all worlds.

The American system is flawed in that there is not enough oversight placed on lawyers and politicians. Remember, job 1 of every politician is to get elected. Every statement/action/policy is built to get them re-elected. In North Carolina, with a heavy black population, Nifong took the word of a mentally unstable black woman with a checkered past over that of 3 Duke lacrosse players because it would further his political career-not because it was the right thing to do. Justice would have been the right thing. But justice might not have gotten Nifong re-elected.

Hopefully, the Duke lacrosse players will attack (yes with lawyers) Nifong. If Nifong is made a big enough example maybe some politician-lawyers will think twice before selling their soul.

Technorati Tags: Nifong, Duke Lacrosse

Democrats Answer to Iraq

I have to give Senators Biden and Boxer (who as a representative gave me my appointment to USAFA in 1985) when it comes to their 'political' solution to Iraq.

Under our plan...the central government would remain responsible for common interests, such as border security and a fair distribution of oil revenues among the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.

This plan will not work. Sunnis and Shiites have no common interests at this time, except for killing each other, and that is the problem. Border security? Who's going to guard the Iranian border? Sunnis-they'll be killed by Iranian and Iraqi Shiites. Shiites would love to guard the Iranian border-that way they could expedite Iranian weapons into Iraq to kill the Sunnis.

Understand this, Iraq is currently in the same state of post Cold War Yugoslavia. There is going to be fighting whether the US is there or not. The Democrats would like to leave because they care more about votes and American lives than the ethnic cleansing that is guaranteed to occur once the US surrenders to the terrorists in Iraq by leaving.





Technorati Tags: Shiite, Sunni, Iraq, Iran, Boxer, Biden

What is Your Favorite News Channel?

Yesterday, I had to voice my disgust with Fox New Channel. However, that is by no means an endorsement of the other 24/7 news organizations out there.

Today, I'll ask what is your favorite news channel.


Technorati Tags: FNC, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Cable News