It Is Not His Red Line

Posted on 04/09/2013 by Grumpa Joe
English: Aerial photograph of a gas attack lau...

English: Aerial photograph of a gas attack launched by the Germans against the Russians circa 1916 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

The debate about what to do with Syria is fascinating. There are so many scenarios to play out and to plan for, but the one that will happen is most likely the one never planned. In my mind this is simple. The President drew a red line and boldly declared that Syria must not cross it or face the consequences. Today, I heard Obama back track and say it was not him who drew the red line, but the world. He referenced the Geneva Convention after WWII when world leaders outlawed gas warfare. Obama is correct, the Geneva Convention prohibits gas warfare, but he is also wrong. He spoke the words, and drew a fresh red line for Syria. Now he is afraid to act.

 

I said it was simple, and it is. The “shot across the bow” is a hand slap. Our strike must make believers out of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia, and Pakistan that we mean business when you violate the no gas warfare rule. We must send a signal significant enough to scare the living bejesus out of the entire world. Rather than a slap on the hand, a ferocious kick in the ass is in order. A kick that is fierce enough to make the world think hard and long before they try any more gas attacks.

 

The problem I see with this approach is that it relies on sound intelligence that the Syrian Government is really the perpetrator of the gas attack. Our Secretary of State is proclaiming that our intelligence is showing us that the attack is directly attributable the Syrian government. I for one, don’t really put much faith in our intelligence since they have blown so many things, like Benghazi for one. There are also several factions rebelling against Syria, that anyone of them could have pulled the attack off. There are rumors that the CIA, Israel, and Al Qaeda all did it. So, who did do it? I cannot believe a leader of a country will perpetrate such an atrocity on his own people. It would be like believing that Obama gasses New York because it is to his advantage. I’m not buying into it. As much as I dislike Obama, I can’t believe he can commit such an atrocity.

 

Let him who is free of sin cast the first stone.

 

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The Man Makes Some Sense

Posted on 31/05/2013 by Grumpa Joe
English: Vladimir Putin, the second President ...

English: Vladimir Putin, the second President of Russia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most American Presidents have been good orators. Our current leader is tauted as being a great orator. I claim he is a good reader. When he speaks extemporaneously, he makes no sense, but he uses a lot of words to do it. I was surprised when I read this interpreted speech given by Vladimir Putin to the Russian Duma (Congress). He made sense and used very few words to do so.  There may be some hope for Russia yet. Now, if we could only have some hope for our leaders in America.
Vladimir Putin’s Speech – 02/04/13
Perhaps this is one time our elected leaders should pay attention . . . .
On February 4th, 2013, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, addressed the Duma, (Russian Parliament), and gave a speech about the tensions with minorities in Russia:
“In Russia live Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, then we advise them to go to those places where that’s the state law. Russia does not need minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell ‘discrimination’. We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of most minorities. When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest first, observing that the minorities are not Russians.
The politicians in the Duma gave Putin a standing ovation for five minutes.
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Be Forwarned

Posted on 09/03/2013 by Grumpa Joe

Since I have been able to see through Obama since his first campaign, I can only warn the “twelve” that this guy is setting you up. Don’t believe for a minute that he is genuinely trying to do some good for the country. His record doesn’t support positive moves to improve the economy, foreign policy, the military, nuclear disarmament, or anything. Learn a lesson from Russia, get what you want without any concessions. Learn a lesson from Benghazi, get thrown under the bus as an expendable. Learn a lesson from Fast and Furious, give your drug cartel buddies all the weapons they want, but take guns from you. Learn a lesson from the sequester, he is pissed that you let it happen, this dinner and new attitude is a step toward revenge. img003 There is not doubt that the “twelve” went to dinner with Obama for two reasons, 1) to give the appearance of bipartisan coöperation. 2) to get a really first class free meal.

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Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters

Posted on 05/08/2012 by Grumpa Joe

Ora Jones as Olga in “Three Sisters”

This week our little theater group attended the last of a five play series titled “Three Sisters.” The play is by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Steppenwolf ensemble member Tracy Letts adapted the work for an American audience. The subscription this year featured stories that were in some way connected to war. All were very good, but two of them were outstanding. Three Sisters is one, the other was “The March” a story about the Civil War.

I’ve seen two Russian works in my life. The first an opera, and now this play. Both impressed me as being somewhat oppressive. The long cold winters in Russia must make people morose. I don’t recall the name of the opera anymore, but I do recall the ride home from the Lyric Opera House. It was an October night and Chicago experienced its first heavy snowfall. Being so early in the season, there were no plows to clear the roads. The leaves were still on the trees and the snow heavy and sticky. Tree limbs and whole trees came down from the weight. We made it home, but the memory of the opera is dim in contrast. I do remember the entire set being in black and white. The background setting for Three Sisters was in black and white.

Writers proclaim that plays by Chekhov were “born for ensemble.” Tracy Letts certainly gave us an adaptation that is perfect for the Steppenwolf ensemble. The story had moments of comedy, pathos, sorrow, longing, and life emotions. The actors became the characters and were quite believable in their roles.

If you get the chance to see this play do. My little theater group came a way rating “The Three Sisters” the best of the series.

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Need a Bomb Shelter?

Posted on 07/01/2011 by Grumpa Joe

Maybe it is just me, but the Progressive types don’t seem to care about natural laws. I consider the US Constitution to be in the same category of document as the Ten Commandments. They have withstood the test of time, and are still valid today. You just can’t argue with the validity. Yet, the Liberals want to modify these natural laws to suit their own stupid agenda. The ten commandments and the US Constitution make too much sense, and they must be demonized and rewritten to make their own ideas seem viable. The latest argument, is that Conservatives are using the Constitution as the basis for a new religion. Actually, I think that is a good argument, because as a conservative, I do uphold the constitution with the same respect as I do the ten commandments and the bible.

Liberals argue that old documents like the Constitution are written in language that is hard to understand. They also pretend to be very intelligent and educated people. If they are so damned intelligent would it matter how difficult the language is to read? The same guys are probably all lined up to get into Shakespeare plays too.

They abhor the bible and the ten commandments because they are rules from God. Good liberals do not believe in God, therefore the commandments and the bible are irrelevant. They don’t believe in God, because they can’t see or touch Him. Therefore He must not exist. They lack faith in anyone but themselves, but their faith is hypocritical. Why? Because they also believe that Big Government knows what is good for them better than they know for themselves.

The cartoon portrays my feelings on the new START Treaty with Russia. The Russians have pulled a fast one on our administration. In our liberal direction of giving criminal countries equal standing in the world, we are literally giving away our position in the hierarchy of nations. Our foolish President and State Department really believes that by giving Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela equal status with the United States, that our relations will improve and there will be great peace on earth.

I think the economy will improve because of START. There will be a new building boom for bomb shelters.

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