Some food for thought from today's New York Times

In today’s New York Times we have several articles that will instruct veterans concerning all the crazy, foggy and unclear variables that seem to dominate modern life.  What a news day!  Just below the surface are some valuable lessons for America.  First up is the demise of socialism in Europe.  Ths story is here.  No, I am not kidding.  This is really happening.

Capitalism just had the worst couple of years since the 1930s in the Western World and beyond. One might think that socialism is now in the ascendancy.  No, its not happening. I am personally always being accused of being a socialist or communist on this web site by my Reich Wing friends and readers, so I have a reason for including this story.  I thought I would include this little news gem for all to read.  Yes, I know….you do not believe it.  Just read on. Its happening.

Political Socialism cannot take advantage of the worldwide economic meltdown as it shows its face in Europe mostly because Europe’s right wing parties have all pretty much moved to left of center spots on the economic continuum relative to health care and pensions.

Therefore they have undercut virtually all influence that the Political Left had in Europe.  It seems that if the conservative parties give universal health care and pensions to the population, they can pretty much do whatever else they want.

Now imagine that!  If the GOP takes this hint they could give rise to a conservative American political dynasty that would last for generations. The lesson seems to be "give the people health care and a strong pension system and you get the entire political pie handed to you on a platter". 

Next up we have a story about a strong disagreement between the various intelligence agencies of Israel, the USA and Europe on whether or not Iran is building a nuclear warhead capability.  The story is here.  The spy agencies do not agree on how capable Iran currently is relative to nuclear strike strength.  What do you think?  "Better safe than sorry"?  And if so, how do we implement that without getting involved in yet another Biblical war in the Land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

Yeah, I don’t know either!

The European Union has just written a lengthy report on the causes of last year’s war between Russia and Georgia.  The report does not square with what we were told by American news outlets last year.  Not at all.  The opening paragraph reads like this:

" After a lengthy inquiry, investigators commissioned by the European Union are expected to conclude that Georgia ignited last year’s war with Russia by attacking separatists in South Ossetia, rejecting the Georgian government’s explanation that the attack was defensive, according to an official familiar with the investigators’ work."

Here is a story that tells us that the closure deadline for Guantanamo Bay’s Detention Center will most likely be missed.  N ocomment.

Here is a must read!  It is an editorial about the Obamites abusing State Secrets legislation as badly as the Bushites did.  Here is a quote:

"One of the ways that the Bush administration tried to avoid accountability for its serious misconduct in the name of fighting terrorism was the misuse of an evidentiary rule called the state secrets privilege. The Obama administration has essentially embraced the Bush approach in existing cases, trying to toss out important lawsuits alleging kidnapping, torture and unlawful wiretapping without any evidence being presented."

Being an American Leftist (like me) means essentially that you watch your friends much more closely than you watch your enemies.  And this is the result of that philosophy.

Here is an article by David Brooks on the next chapter of the American Culture Wars.  Great, I cannot wait.

Here is an editorial by two thinkers that states we should align ourselves with Iran…hmmmm…I am not exactly sure how we do that without allowing Israel to be annhilated. 

Just another news day and there is plenty to think about. But as I always say, an informed veteran is a dangerous veteran.  And when it comes to being politically volatile and dangerous, it is much better to be a carrier than someone infected with the end result of the virus.

Informed people impose their will upon their government.  Ideologically driven people simply end up doing as they are told by their "leadership" and this is never a good idea.

Informed veterans are a power to contend with, ideologically driven veterans are merely sheep being led to slaughter.

CWO3 Tom Barnes, USCG (Ret.)