36 Articles

Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Perils of Afghanistan
(1 comments) I recently read with great interest an analytical review of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's tactical plans for Afghanistan written by George Friedman and Reva Bhalla for Stratfor. Friedman is the editor-in-chief of Stratfor and its chief intelligence analyst. Despite the authors' straightforward analysis, or because of it, the reader comes away scared to death re our future in this God-forsaken land, noting this war is heating up.

Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Little Big Horn Redux
Pakistan is heating up with recent attacks, including an attack on Pakistan's "pentagon" in Rawalpindi. After eight years of war in Afghanistan U.S.-led NATO forces are actually losing ground as the resurgent Taliban gains in strength and territory. In the midst of all this I am hearing some of the most incredulous rhetoric, rhetoric that questions either my own sanity or the sanity of our nation's leaders.

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Iran, Missiles Launched, and War ... or Not
(5 comments) Last week Iran revealed a secret underground nuclear facility near the ancient city of Qom. Now that I can understand. For years I have speculated that Iran had such sites hidden from view other than the known facility at Natanz. A few days later, despite the harsh rhetoric from Western nations, things seem to cool down as Iran invited the IAEA to inspect the new site. Then she does what?

Monday, September 21, 2009
Our Leaders Just Don't Get It
(3 comments) I read an article the other day that absolutely infuriated me. It dealt with the quandary lawmakers are having about escalating the war in Afghanistan. Escalating the war in Afghanistan? Our leaders should be discussing ways of getting out of there, not debating a further surge after the additional 21,000 troops Obama ordered to the Graveyard of Empires.

Thursday, September 3, 2009
Did I Just Have a Bad Dream
(5 comments) On Friday morning I was enjoying my daily ritual, getting my world and national news fix over a cup of coffee on my patio. I came upon two statements that caused me to choke on a gulp of coffee. Mentally I asked myself, "What did he just say?" I read the two statements again, then a third time. There was no mistaking what the man said. I was thoroughly shocked and angered. I said to no one in particular. I told you so!

Thursday, August 27, 2009
Endgame
(2 comments) For those who think the endgame is approaching soon for the Iraq Crisis, think again.

Saturday, August 15, 2009
Afghanistan Is Another Afghanistan
(1 comments) A political cartoon said it best. The cartoon depicted a man on the left bemoaning, "Afghanistan is another Vietnam." A bedraggled figure on the right obviously characterizing an Afghan villager proclaimed, "Afghanistan is another Afghanistan."

Sunday, August 2, 2009
Okay, I've Had It Up To Here
There was a time I once believed that a Congressional investigation was supposed to determine a wrong-doing, and, if there was sufficient evidence of malfeasance, the issue became a prosecutorial matter and the accused was brought before a court of law, or, in the case of impeachment proceedings, before the House of Representatives to determine if there would be a trial in the Senate. This no longer appears to be the case.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Americans Have Short Memories
Collectively, Americans have short memories. Worse, far worse, so does the mainstream news (MSN). A few of us remember the al-Sahwa or the Sons of Iraq, otherwise known as the Awakening Movement. President Bush dubbed them "Concerned Local Citizens." Remember them? One should. They had a vital role to play in the good ole days in Iraq.

Saturday, June 13, 2009
"War Is Hell"
(6 comments) So saith General Sherman during the Civil War. However, there is a quote concerning war that I far prefer. "The true enemy of man is war itself." Allow me to clarify. I am both a student of military history and a Marine Corps officer [ret]. It is recognized that war can become an unwilling necessity under certain conditions. Iraq and Afghanistan do not fulfill the necessary conditions.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Travesty in Iraq
(7 comments) Recently, a very good friend of mine asked me via e-mail how our country can extricate itself from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that got me thinking, and I soon realized that I didn't have a clue.

Monday, May 11, 2009
Travesty in Iraq
(4 comments) Recently, a very good friend of mine asked me via e-mail how our country can extricate itself from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that got me thinking, and I soon realized that I didn't have a clue.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
It Is Not Looking Good
(10 comments) In the hopes of finding a silver lining somewhere, I turned the page to the six-year long war in Iraq. After all, the mass news media, conservative web sites and talk shows have been telling us for months that Bush's surge was a resounding success. Unfortunately, the quest for good news encountered huge pot holes filled with discouragement. It is not looking good.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Search for Common Sense
(8 comments) I recently read Obama's entire speech in Prague, The Czech Republic, regarding nuclear weapons proliferation. Naturally, he is opposed to it, and his speech was resounding, including many applause interruptions. Good speech, but I was looking for something and when I found it my blood began to boil.

Saturday, March 28, 2009
America Divided
(4 comments) It appears as though America is divided as much as ever. On one side we have the supporters of the charismatic President Obama who are so fervent in their loyalty to him the phenomenon can be likened to adoration of a rock star. On the other side we have his opponents who are just as fervent, fierce actually, in their opposition to the President.

Thursday, February 26, 2009
Absurd Rhetoric: Violations of Common Sense
(3 comments) For the past eight years I have heard or read a litany of ludicrous rhetoric from Washington and other places that would fill a lifetime. Hundreds of times over that period, I have asked myself, what has happened to common sense. Of course, since 9/11, I have been paying closer attention. Living the horror of 9/11 will do that to a person.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Bold Moves
My last article drew an enormous amount of interest. It suggested that our new President take unprecedented steps in the war-torn Mideast by utilizing our strategic weapons as opposed to the tactical use of ground troops. This is a follow-up to that article necessitated by developments since the article first appeared on OEN.

Sunday, February 1, 2009
Mr. President, It Is Time to Make Bold Moves
(8 comments) It is past time to make bold, perhaps even audacious, political and military decisions to strengthen our great republic. It is past time to remove all our troops and all of our bases from the Middle East. The concept is based on military and economic pragmatism while ensuring our nation's security.

Saturday, January 31, 2009
Mr. President, It Is Time to Make Bold Moves
(2 comments) It is past time to make bold, perhaps even audacious, political and military decisions to strengthen our great republic. It is past time to remove all our troops and all of our bases from the Middle East. The concept is based on military and economic pragmatism while ensuring our nation's security.

Monday, January 12, 2009
The Bush administration conundrum
This article is unique. Ordinarily, when I sit down to pen an article, I voice a very strong opinion on an issue that is of concern to many. The following will be different in that respect. On this issue I am completely ambivalent. My equivocation is based on what day it is, or even what time it is, or, perhaps, even the position of the moon, stars and planets in the universe.

Saturday, December 27, 2008
Afghanistan: Stand and Deliver ... or not
(5 comments) In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks Americans were aggrieved, furious, and vengeance filled their hearts. Unlike the Pearl Harbor attack against largely military targets, the odious 9/11 outrage was against massive civilian structures in our largest city and the death toll exceeded that of Pearl Harbor. On the other hand, what I advocate is realism.

Friday, December 12, 2008
The SOFA-- Bush's Deal With Iraq-- Has Some Dubious Aspects
(2 comments) Barring an inane and extremely provocative attack on Iran between now and Jan. 20, a highly remote possibility at best, it appears that this may be my last opportunity to bash Bush, one of the most inept and lonely lame duck Presidents in our history. Doing so has been a six-year long endeavor, beginning with his illegal invasion of Iraq, and, in a perverse sense, I will miss him.

Sunday, November 9, 2008
This didn't have to happen
(2 comments) I read with enormous interest an article published by The Independent UK entitled "Pakistan Stares Into the Abyss." As one may infer from the title, it was a very disturbing article. The scary part of the article is that this nation in chaos is a nuclear-tipped nation. Then the thought occurred to me that this didn't need to happen. My mind returned to a different place and time.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Obama and McCain's foreign policy
(2 comments) I am not to blind to the fact that we are facing an economic crisis right now, and, more than likely, the economy will be the number one issue on Nov. 4th. If so, essentially, that is the wrong approach voters should take on this election, very wrong.What does the current economic crisis have to do with the future of our republic? Nothing. The future of our country will be determined by our relationships with other nations.

Friday, September 26, 2008
The Angry American
We are engaged in two endless wars that have so far cost a trillion dollars. My home will be paid off in months. My reward: It has lost $200,000 in value. In the past year, not unlike millions of Americans, I have lost thousands of dollars in my retirement portfolio. All of this has taken place during the Bush administration, and there is a good possibility the Republicans will be rewarded with victory in November.

Thursday, September 11, 2008
9/11 - A macabre anniversary
(2 comments) It is now seven years later. Like everyone, I will never forget that day. Dutifully, we put the flag out in front of our house, just like we do every Sept. 11 since that fateful day, just as we do every Fourth of July and Memorial Day, and other selected dates. But, Sept. 11th is not like the Fourth of July, and it is not like Memorial Day. It is not even like Dec. 7, 1941.

Sunday, August 31, 2008
America is going into the tank
(1 comments) The 2008 election is one of the most historic in the life of our great nation. It will answer the question: Who will succeed the imperial Presidency of George W. Bush? In my view, although a Republican, but an American first, a Democratic victory is essential for the very survival of our country.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Setting precedents and loss of the moral high ground
America has reached the nadir in terms of moral leadership of the Western democracies. No where is this more true than Bush's dilemma in dealing with Russian actions in Georgia. Bush's decisions regarding Iraq make a mockery of any advice he may give the Russians re their decisions concerning Georgia. Everyone knows it, perhaps, even Bush.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Classic military blunders
(3 comments) During the modern era there have been numerous military blunders made by commanders-in-chiefs. I have chosen three because each has turned the tide of civilization, two in a positive sense, one in a not so positive sense. Each shows the intransigence of the respective nation's leadership and an inability to deal with reality.

Saturday, July 12, 2008
Understanding Iran
(4 comments) Actually, the title should read, "Trying to understand Iran." Or, "Is Iran bipolar?" Or, "Confusion exists over Iranian intentions." Or - and this is ominous - "Are there twin, equally powerful centers of power in Iran?" Put a different way, this writer with years of experience in matters Iranian is totally perplexed over developments in Iran during the course of the past two weeks.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Is Al Qa'ida influencing US elections?
(2 comments) Now don't get me wrong. If The Surge results in lower casualties for both Americans and Iraqis and hastens our withdrawal from that forlorn land, then I want it to succeed despite my complete misgivings about the decision to invade Iraq in the first place.

Monday, May 19, 2008
The myth of the War Powers Resolution, Oct. 11, 2002
(8 comments) There is a common misconception held in America that in Oct. 2002, Congress gave the Bush administration a blank check to invade Iraq. Today, two Presidential candidates voted for Authorization For Use Of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution Of 2002, or P.L. 104-243, and a third has accepted the common misconception.

Monday, May 5, 2008
War with Iran ... that is up to Iraq
(2 comments) According to the highest circles in our government, the evidence of Iranian misbehavior is being presented to Iraqis, not Americans, and "Baghdad will decide what to do about it."

Friday, April 25, 2008
What a way to fight a war
(15 comments) September 11, 2001. Having carefully monitored events since that fateful day, having pride in our great country and its past heroic military achievements, it is painful to the extreme to recount events since that day. The horrific mistakes made in the name of our country ...

Monday, April 7, 2008
So, now where do we stand?
(2 comments) On March 25th, a military debacle of major proportions began. It ended the following Sunday, but the ramifications of this engagement will continue for months, and if America's leaders are not listening, years.

Monday, March 10, 2008
The perfect storm
(1 comments) Despite dire threats to life as we know it in America, the mass media and the Democratic Party are ignoring the danger to our Constitution.