Fidel Castro Obama Will Avoid Nuclear War

Fidel Castro is back at the podium after four years out of the limelight. Brother Raul Castro sat on the sidelines where he will likely be relegated until Fidel's next hospitalization. The chamber of the National Assembly of People's Power adored him, cheered wildly, and sent kisses his way. The "comandante" took the opportunity to tell the people he is certain Barack Obama is man-enough to avoid a nuclear showdown with Iran, and that a nuclear war rests solely on Obama's shoulders.

Fidel Castro

Since you haven't heard from Fidel for a few years now, let me provide the latest:

`One man alone will have to make the decision: The president of the United States,'' Castro said, because Iran will not bow to U.S. and Israeli demands to halt its nuclear program.

If Obama approves an attack on Iran, he added, he will trigger a war that will spread through the Middle East and Asia and cause ``the instantaneous death of hundreds of millions people, among them an incalculable number of people in his own country.''

The ``established order of the planet ... will inevitably collapse, the reigning social order will disappear abruptly'' and all currencies will be worthless, he added.

Castro noted that ``as luck would have it, ,'' Obama's father was Muslim and his mother was Christian and added he hoped the U.S. president will become conscious of the threat to world peace.

In comparison, he called Richard Nixon a ``cynic,'' branded Ronald Reagan and Harry Truman as ``ignorant'' and called Jimmy Carter ``a decent person.''

How about "The National Assembly of People's Power" in a country where the people have zero power.

Obama Lost Stature, Relatively Unsuccessful, A Lot Like Jimmy Carter, Ain't No Pacific President

The First Pacific President who isn't, Barack Obama, has been deemed "nowhere on the world stage" by our German friends.

David Axelrod whined to the press that the "public's expectations had been too high." "Expectations too high" - echos throughout the world. Damage control for Barack Obama: Expectations too high - December 2008!,Expectations too high - January 2009!  Expectations too high - February 2009!  Expectations so high - March 2009! Expectations too high - June 2009! Expectations too high - October 2009! This list could go on an on, and just for the record, most of us red-blooded Americans out here are getting exactly what we expected out of Barack Obama. See a Charles Krauthammer video below explaining the "first Pacific President," and why Obama is not "it."

The following from der Spiegel Online:

The mood in Obama's foreign policy team is tense following an extended Asia trip that produced no palpable results. The "first Pacific president," as Obama called himself, came as a friend and returned as a stranger. The Asians smiled but made no concessions.

 "Lost Some Stature:"

Obama's currency isn't as strong as he had believed. Everyone wants respect, but hardly anyone is willing to pay for it. Interests, not emotions, dominate the world of realpolitik.

 "Relatively Unsuccessful:"

When former President Bill Clinton went to China in June 1998, Beijing wanted to impress the Americans. A press conference in the Great Hall of the People, broadcast on television as a 70-minute live discussion, became a sensation the world over. 

America should clean up its government finances, and the weak dollar is unacceptable, the head of the Chinese banking authority said, just as Obama's plane was about to land.

Obama's new foreign policy has also been relatively unsuccessful elsewhere, with even friends like Israel leaving him high and dry. For the government of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, peace is only conceivable under its terms. Netanyahu has rejected Obama's call for a complete moratorium on the construction of settlements. As a result, Obama has nothing to offer the Palestinians and the Syrians. "We thought we had some leverage," says Martin Indyk, a former ambassador to Israel under the Clinton administration and now an advisor to Obama. "But that proved to be an illusion."

 Even the president seems to have lost his faith in a genial foreign policy. The approach that was being used in Afghanistan this spring, with its strong emphasis on civilian reconstruction, is already being changed. "We're searching for an exit strategy," said a staff member with the National Security Council on the sidelines of the Asia trip.

"A Lot Like Jimmy Carter:"

An end to diplomacy is also taking shape in Washington's policy toward Tehran. It is now up to Iran, Obama said, to convince the world that its nuclear power is peaceful....This puts the president, in his tenth month in office, where Bush began -- with threats. "Time is running out," Obama said in Korea. It was the same phrase Bush used against former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, shortly before he sent in the bombers....

Prominent Republicans have already tried to liken Obama to the humanitarian from Georgia, who lost in his bid to win a second term, because voters felt that he was too soft. "Carter tried weakness and the world got tougher and tougher because the predators, the aggressors, the anti-Americans, the dictators, when they sense weakness, they all start pushing ahead," Newt Gingrich, the former Republican speaker in the House of Representatives, recently said. And then he added: "This does look a lot like Jimmy

The world is beginning to get it.


Charles Krauthammer: Obama not the first Pacific President(video)

8 Years of Rockets And Still No End In Sight

Cross posted by Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

Sderot residents in fortified room (Photo: Amir Cohen)

Imagine that you live under a situation in which every day there is a rocket attack from your neighbors. You don't know where it is going to strike, you don't know if your home, your family will suffer this time. Imagine that this has been going on for 8 years and the authorities would do nothing to stop these attacks. This is what the citizens of Sderot and the Western Negev have lived with for 8 years now. Even when there was a so-called "truce", the rockets fell. And yet the world only condemns Israel for attacking back.

Four Qassam rockets were fired from northern Gaza Saturday evening towards the city of Sderot in south Israel. There were no reports of injuries or damage. One of the rockets landed in the courtyard of a local factory, but caused no damage to the site. Another rocket landed near a kibbutz in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, while the third landed near the security fence separating Israel from the Hamas-controlled territory. The landing site of the fourth Qassam has yet to be located. The attack on Sderot took place at around 19:30 pm; loud explosions were heard in the city. The al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad's armed wing, claimed responsibility for the barrage, saying it was launched in retaliation for Israel's "continued aggression" and "crimes of the occupation." At 9:30 pm another Qassam rocket fired from Gaza landed in an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. There were no reports of injuries or damage. At least 15 Qassams and 26 mortars were fired toward the western Negev region throughout the day. In the afternoon a barrage of mortar shells and one rocket fell in a kibbutz located within the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council's limits. Full Story

Now imagine a former US President siding with your attackers, advising them and telling the Media that it is all your fault that you are being attacked by your neighbor.

Former United States President Jimmy Carter reported that he advised Syrian-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on what price to demand from Israel for the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was abducted more than two years ago. He said that Hamas is "relatively satisfied with the status quo." Carter's visit to Lebanon and Syria earlier this month follows a trip to to Damascus several months ago in the face of American policy against establishing direct contact with the outlawed terrorist organization. Carter wrote on his website that he spoke with Mashaal about "formulas for prisoner exchange to obtain the release of Corporal Shalit," who has since been promoted to sergeant. However, he probably is not aware of the promotion because the International Red Cross has not succeeded in convincing Hamas to honor the Geneva Convention and allow its officials to visit him. The Red Cross also has rejected Israeli citizen's demands that it stop visiting terrorists in Israeli jails until Shalit is seen and confirmed to be alive and in good health. Full Story

I see that a nursing home hasn't been found for Grandpa Carter yet. In order to put forward your side of the conflict you hold a news conference, but the media does not attend, calling you an aggressor and murderer.

Sderot Media Center Press Conference Release

By Anav Silverman - Sderot Media Center

A day before the Hamas-Israel ceasefire officially ended, Sderot Media Center facilitated a press conference with a panel of Sderot officials who provided brief updates of the security situation and the impact of the ceasefire on the area residents to Israeli and international press. Member of Knesset and Kadima party member, Shai Chermesh, who is a resident of Kfar Aza, a western Negev community under daily mortar shelling, participated in the panel. He stated that the ceasefire had yielded no positive results for Israel. "Gilad Schalit is still in Gaza and Sderot and western Negev residents are still under rocket fire. This is a reality that our government must deal with and as of now, the government of Israel has shown that it has little authority over what is happening to Sderot and the western Negev," MK Chermesh concluded. "Hamas is the occupying power of Gaza and has treated its constituents terribly," he added. "Hamas must stop using their own Palestinian civilians as sacrificial offerings by employing rocket terror tactics against innocent Israelis." Chermesh stated that he believed that disengaging from Gaza in 2005 was a positive move. "It was important that we left and it was too bad that we didn't leave earlier," he stated. "If the IDF re-enters Gaza, the attack must be planned carefully. The people of Gaza should not go hungry and we must limit civilian causalities as much as possible." Batya Katar, representing the Parents Association for the security of Sderot, stated that Sderot residents feel that Sderot is a separate entity. "We don't have the right leaders to deal with the reality of the region," she said. "If this was happening in Tel Aviv, there would be a completely different reaction from the government." "Only yesterday evening, a Palestinian rocket landed right outside a busy supermarket. People outside at the time barely escaped the rocket explosion," Katar added. "Thanks to the Tzeva Adom, they were able to make it inside, but the attack could have been deadly. How many more rocket attacks must Sderot experience, how many near-death experiences must Sderot residents endure--before the government of Israel acts?" The president of Sderot's Small Businesses Association, Danny Dahan told the press that the rocket fire was economically crippling the region. Dahan, who owns Dahan's supermarket in Sderot, explained that the changed shopping patterns of his customers--"they rush in and rush out" has contributed to the decrease in sales. "People no longer linger around, taking their time to buy food. Everyone wants to go home as quickly as possible." Dahan also stated that due to the rocket fire, there were problems with shipments of goods coming into Sderot. "Some of our suppliers refuse to enter Sderot because of the rocket fire. Many times, I end up going to the junction in Ashkelon to pick up the goods for my supermarket." Noam Bedein, Sderot Media Center director, highlighted that the over 2,500 Palestinian rockets fired at Sderot and the western Negev have caused a marked increase in psychological trauma among Sderot children. "Between 70-94% of Sderot children are suffering from signs of PTSD, according to a recent NATAL survey" Bedein stated. Bedein also related that between 300-400 Palestinian rockets have been fired at Israel since the ceasefire began in June. Yehuda Ben Maman, the Sderot security officer, added that although many bomb shelters have emerged throughout Sderot in the recent year, most of the structures provide protection from rocket shrapnel only and not from direct Qassam rocket hits.

But for the people of Sderot and the Western Negev, the IDF might be giving them a Chanukah present.

Military source: IDF prepared to 'conquer Gaza Strip' if need be

Military sources said the IDF was preparing for a wide-range of scenarios, pending government instructions. "We have operational plans ranging from conquering the Gaza Strip to pinpoint raids against rocket squads," one officer said. "However, we will ultimately do what we are told to do." Full Story

You can give the children of Sderot a wonderful Christmas/Chanukah gift too. A small donation to the Sderot Media Center will give a child the gift of hope and love. It pays for the small parties given to the children of Sderot, the psychological counseling that many of the citizens need, and the legal help the people of the region need to deal with the government bureaucracy. It is easy to do. Just click on the Sderot Media Logo at the top or bottom of this post and follow the directions from there.

The Bedrock Decency of President George W. Bush

For an America consumed with 'hip and cool,' we will get what we deserve in the presidency of Barack Obama. We voted in a shadowy, secretive man, who thwarted every effort to discover his measure of integrity - at a time when it should have become known before he became President. America knew a little about Bill Clinton's escapades in Arkansas...ignored them...learned of others, including rape, state troopers "delivering" Paula Jones to his hotel room, and Monica in the Oval Office. We ignored the opportunities for blackmail at the highest levels of our Government. America embraced all of it. We loved his less than full measure of integrity. We knew everything about GWB. He admitted his alcoholism, and his need for God in his life. He admitted he was a randy college student and an onery son. He admitted that his faith, and his wife and daughters had changed his life. He admitted he had been down a lonely and dangerous road, and turned back, vowing to make a difference in the lives of others. We watched him over the past eight years improve the lives of many around the world. The press hated it. He was ridiculed for his decency. Exit George W. Bush. He will continue to treat former Presidents Clinton and Carter, with every respect due the Office of the President, even though this time-honored respect has been denied him, even as a sitting-President, by these two loathsome examples of less than full measures of integrity.

*****

Why I'll Miss President Bush Wall Street Journal by Jim Towey

Mr. Towey was director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives from 2002-2006. He is president of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.

President Bush will soon be heading home and for many that day cannot come soon enough. Count me among those who will miss him and his bedrock decency.

He had a rough road from day one. His first inauguration struck me as a portent. I was there, shivering in the grandstands on Pennsylvania Avenue. At the exact moment the president heard "Hail to the Chief" for the first time and was announced to the audience, a sleet storm descended from the skies.

It has never let up.

Through it all Mr. Bush kept his head up and soldiered on. He took the criticism in stride. I remember riding with him in his presidential limousine to the Washington Hilton for a speech. A woman standing at an intersection directed an obscene gesture at him that I had hoped he missed. The president waved to her and with a bemused look said to me, "Did you see what she did?"

Many other Americans, particularly the "values voters" who helped elect him twice, will miss him because of what he achieved: Samuel Alito and John Roberts on the Supreme Court, children in schools that now are better because they are accountable, African women who now have medicines for their HIV-infected babies, and religious charities that are finally being treated by government as partners instead of rivals.

I remember coming to the West Wing one morning before the daily 7:30 senior staff meeting and seeing Mr. Bush at his desk in the Oval Office, reading a daily devotional. I remember the look of sorrow on his face as he signed letters to the families of the fallen. When he met with recovering addicts whose lives were transformed by a faith-based program, he spoke plainly of his own humiliating journey years ago with alcohol. When a Liberian refugee broke into tears after recounting her escape to freedom in America, the president went over and held and comforted her.

Little acts behind the curtain like these inspired intense loyalty by staff members. They spoke of someone never too busy or burdened to care -- Read more.

End Towery essay.

*****

Thanks to my ever vigilant cousin, Marilyn.

The War Politicians Don't Want to Talk About

The dedicate and hard-working group at ANEWTONE has announced surpassing it's ONE MILLIONTH hit for 2008 - and over THREE MILLION since the site fired-up in mid-2005. It's easy to see why ANEWTONE is having such tremendous growth - just read the piece below written by 


~Snooper~

War News The War Politicians Don't Talk About

American politics. At times, especially in recent times, can be an international embarrassment. In my short 53 years on this planet, I have been a keen observer of politics ever since I voted for that fellow from Georgia. You know. Him. The guy that hates Israel and loves terrorists and tries to convince people that he is sane. I figured out he was insane when he screwed the Shah of Iran and put into power those "nice religious people". He then accepted the Shah into the US for medical treatment and then had him ejected from the US because those "nice religious people" demanded it. Then, he gave the Panama Canal to the Red Chinese and had American military members killed in Iran on a rescue mission of the American hostages. He later claimed that if he had had one more chopper, he would have won re-election. Idiot. Alas, I digress. Getting back to American politics, I discovered many years ago that the vast majority of the politicians that wind up in DC don't give a hoot about the American People. All they care about is the Almighty Power they get to wield. Power is all that matters. Tenure in office is all that matters. Bribing constituents of their districts for votes is all that matters. Case in point is Murtha, the soon to be EX-Marine, hopefully, that disgraced his uniform and the Oath he swore at one time but tossed that solemn Oath out the window for political gain. He isn't the only one, either. The list is long and brutal. Why won't the current crop of contenders for the Presidency on the DNC ticket talk about what is going on at this moment in Iraq or Afghanistan? And, what about those 18 Iraqi Benchmarks they so whined about all of last year? For that matter, whatever came of "the war is lost"? For that matter, whatever came of the Democrat Party chant of "we are going to end this war"? Were those words and mantras merely to win an election? Certainly they would not stoop to such new depths as to lie their way into power, would they? Well, as it turns out, the answer is an astoundingly, resounding and rising crescendo of YES! In today's NY Post, Amir Taheri has an article addressing the various candidates and The Why they don't talk about Iraq much...they can't. It exposes them for being on the wrong side of the war for political gain and would have to admit that Bush was right. Even though he was and is right, they cannot rise above their self-induced quagmire of failure. They would also have to admit that Iran is indeed behind about 90% of the turmoil now in country, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hell, I knew that back before 91101. Surely they did as well. But, it isn't politically expedient to admit so. This is why American politics is so damn embarrassing. The entire world knows that Iran is behind the unrest. Only a fool does not. Please excuse me for stating the obvious to the oblivious. Political Correctness. Multiculturalism. Identity Politics. The cowards' rants of stupidity, self-imposed. A political quagmire of their own making. Perhaps they should redeploy? I will end this with a quote from George Orwell found at the American Thinker and discussed tonight at JPM's BTR show.

"We have now sunk to a depth where the restatement of the obvious is the duty of intelligent men" - George Orwell.

Sadly, there aren't many intelligent men left in this country. At least not many that are willing to speak out. Article End. Permalink: http://maggiesnotebook.blogspot.com/2008/04/war-politicians-dont-want-to-talk-about.html Trackback URL for this entry: http://haloscan.com/tb/maggiesnotebook/5255654999083579631 Technorati Tags: ANEWTONE,Snooper, U.S. Marines, Senator John Murtha, War Politics, Multiculturalism, Political Correctness, War on Terror, Jimmy Carter, Panama Canal, Shah of Iran, Iraq, U.S. Military,

Weekend Open Trackbacks and Linkfest - April 18-20

Graphic borrowed from Michelle Malkin's homepage. I couldn't resist.


Michelle Malkin is talking about Jimmy Carter's "hugs for Hamas," and reporting one Congresswoman who is asking Condi to revoke his passport.









Welcome to Open Trackback Weekend and Linkfest Haven. I’ll will manually add your trackbacks, with excerpts if available, to this page as they come in. Be patient: some trackbacks mysteriously travel the entire blogosphere before they arrive.

Not familiar with trackbacks? Here's how to do it:

1) Choose the article you want to promote. Copy my permalink URL and my trackback URL (you'll find mine just below these instructions). Add my blog name: Maggie's Notebook linked with my permalink, into the body of your post (just after your completed article). Show it like this: Trackposted to:
Maggie's Notebook, which gives me a live link within your article. Then send a trackback to me (you'll need my trackback URL), which will let me know that you are joining in the fun. I will then add your live link to my article.

2) If you use blogging software that doesn’t have “trackback” ability built in, you can use Wizbang Standalone Trackback Pinger or Kalsey’s Simpletracks.

3) If you don't have trackbacks yet, just leave a comment and say that you do not have trackbacks, with an excerpt from your post and your permalink, and I will add that too!

4) If you would like to join the Open Trackback Alliance visit The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns.

5) If you would like to host a trackback party, or join another blogger's party, go to Linkfest Haven Deluxe for more information.

6) If you would like to join the Open TrackBack Provider Blogroll visit The Blue State Conservatives for more information.

"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"

Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Az). Ronald Reagan was a Goldwater speechwriter in the 1964 campaign


Posted by Maggie
Article End

Permalink: http://maggiesnotebook.blogspot.com/2008/04/weekend-open-trackbacks-and-linkfest_18.html

Trackback URL for this entry:
http://haloscan.com/tb/maggiesnotebook/2315800034614708225

Tracked by:
Antisemitism in the Hadith and the Koran from The Amboy Times - Excerpt: A must read over at Dhimmi by Andrew Bostom. Antisemitism in the Hadith and Early Muslim Biographies of Muhammad: Motifs and ManifestationsA hadith that was widespread relates that during his agony the prophet cursed the Jews and Christians who had

Ohio Teacher Refuses to Remove Bible From Students' View, and other attacks on Christianity from Right Truth - Excerpt: Ohio Teacher Refuses to Remove Bible From Students' View, Fox MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — An Ohio middle school teacher says he won't obey an order to remove a Bible from view of students. John Freshwater said Wednesday he agreed to

Weekend Open Trackbacks 4/18-20 from Oblogatory Anecdotes - Excerpt: Here is an easy way to get a link with open trackbacks . This can help you improve your Technorati and TTLB rankings.

Winter Soldier I, II: Saturday morning discussion rom Rosemary's Thoughts - Excerpt:
9am Saturday, April 19, 2008, there's a radio program about the Winter Soldier I and II. What happened? Why did America turn on our men? Was the whole thing a lie? If so, whose lie? Should Congressional records be held as proof of perjury? Tune

War News: McClatchey News Anti-Americanists from A NEWT ONE - Excerpt: These poor excuses for journalistic integrity couldn't get a story straight if their lives depended on it. And, by the way, it does. They just don't or won't see the threats from the enemy. They are very similar if not identical to the chronic malco..

SHOW TIME THE BAND from Right Truth - Excerpt: Here's hubby's band performing "When Will I Be Loved", for more video performances visit SHOW TIME THE BAND. Enjoy. We're located in West Tennessee, so if you need a band, just let us know. There's a link in the sidebar

Transgen-derS having BabieS? from Woman Honor Thyself - Excerpt: If you’ve been to a grocery store lately, you no doubt have noticed the tabloids featuring photos of what appears to be a thirty-something man, with beard, with under-arm hair and, quite conspicuously, with child.

Ban GunS?...I Don't Think Sooo from Woman Honor Thyself. Excerpt: In words that he has come to regret, Barack Obama opined as to why he was having a hard time winning over many blue-collar voters: “They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or antitrade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Linked by:

Obama Laments Distraction but not His Copyright © 2008 Big Dog. Excerpt: Visit the original article at http://www.onebigdog.net/obama-laments-distraction-but-not-his/. Barack Obama was discussing his contest with Hillary Clinton when he made reference to her claim about throwing the ...

Jimmy Carter is a Traitor... from rm_blogger - Excerpt: ...to the American people. When I was younger I admired Jimmy Carter. In some ways there are still plenty of things to admire about the man but they are unfortunately overshadowed by the foolish mistakes he is making acting like a fool ...

Global Warming Today: Paris Talks End With No Results from William Teach - Excerpt: Go figure! PARIS, April 18 (Xinhua) — The third Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change (MEM) closed here on Friday with no substantial progress and no agreement reached on specific greenhouse gas reduction goals. ...

Back on Dayshift….so far… from Chuck - Excerpt: Well, so far so good…. After staying up all night and till about 1:30 in the afternoon, and finally crashing. I was able to hit the rack last night at around 2:00 am. I woke up, tried looking at the clock and of course, something was in .

Texas Judge Slaps Down on the Polygamists... from rm_blogger - Excerpt: Maybe it wasn't a surprise to some people but it certainly surprised me since I haven't been able to follow this the last few days. Judge Barbara Walther ruled that the over 400 kids currently under state custody will remain in state

Weekend Open Trackbacks 4/18-20 from Ken - Excerpt: Here is an easy way to get a link with open trackbacks . This can help you improve your Technorati and TTLB rankings. You can trackback on any subject and I will make sure you get a link to your site. Trackback URL ...

Technorati Tags: Open Trackback, OTA, Open
Trackback Aliance, Open Trackback Provider Alliance, Linkfest Haven Deluxe, Michelle Malkin,President Jimmy Carter, Hamas, Terrorism, Gaza

The US, UN, Iran and 2008

By Stanford Matthews Blog @ MoreWhat.com

The following is certainly an oversimplified appraisal. But the order of the news reports lent itself to an almost automatic response. The events themselves may have played out somewhat differently. At least as far as timing is concerned. But nevertheless there chronological publishing times may be in proper order. The point is this.

We all know that Iran was on President Bush's 'D' list. They were not likely to get invited to any parties. And if you are old enough to remember the dagger in the heart of Jimmy Carter's Administration or had some history classes in school, you are familiar with 444 days worth of agony suffered by Americans at the hands of Iranian hospitality.

Then there was the Reagan Administration basking in the glory of the return of the American hostages and later the Iran-Contra scandal and I'm getting crazy just thinking about it. That is over twenty-five years ago and the process has not improved. It appears more complicated than the simple explanation that every country is looking out for their own agenda and benefit.

With the Memorial Day concluding earlier this week, thoughts of WWII and the greatest generation did not escape most Americans. Citizens of many other countries are sure to have been reminded also. When I think of our country's contribution to winning that war alongside so many other allied nations, another striking reminder enters my thoughts.

At the end of WWII the League of Nations was replaced by the United Nations whose stated mission was to intervene in conflicts between nations and avoid future wars. It almost seems as though human beings were finally getting it right. Instead of a period of time of peaceful activity followed by the totally impractical practice of armed conflict, we would solve our differences in an organized group to eliminate the need for death and destruction in enormous quantities.

Let's review the latest success of this noble endeavor. As stated earlier, the sequence of the following reports is assumed to be relatively chronological.

Iraq's Sadr blasts US-Iranian meeting

BAGHDAD, May 30 (UPI) -- Among those who blasted the meeting is Iranian-backed Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, who said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S.-Iranian talks in Baghdad Monday constituted "interference in Iraqi affairs."

So the first thing that happens is the cleric known as Sadr throws his two cents worth in 'dissin' the meeting. One man who has done everything he can to cause more bloodshed in Iraq is complaining about a meeting between the US and Iran. Could be so simple as he doesn't want anything solved for it ups his value as a 'somebody' in Iraq.

Talking With Our Enemies Is Smart Policy

The Moderate Voice - By Jeb Koogler. The recent meeting between American and Iranian officials in Baghdad effectively brings to an end the Bush administration’s use of ‘enforced ...

Then we have another opinion apparently applauding an approach that differs from the typical 'cowboy George' routine that one could characterize as shoot now, ask questions later or the old Teddy Roosevelt adage of walk softly and carry a big stick. This second philosophy has a tendency of provoking more attitude from hostile foes and delay the desired victory outcome.

Iran official rules out halting enrichment ahead of nuclear talks ...

International Herald Tribune, France - In another sign of defiance, hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boasted that Iran has become so strong that no adversary can defeat it. ...

Which of course prompted the response above from the Iranians as well as another one bragging about no one would be crazy enough to challenge the great and powerful Iranian military. Ok, where did we here that Mother of all wars speech before. Yo, yo, Prez AJ, over powering the Iraqi forces was not a problem. Keeping the nutcases contained has presented a problem, but foreign armies, not a big deal. Does he have that little man syndrome?

Diplomats: West rejected Iran nuke concession

MSNBC - In another sign of defiance, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boasted that his country’s military has become so strong that no adversary would risk an ...

And the tennis ball lands in the other court and we have renewed talk about regime change. So the long delayed question is where the hell is the United Nations, again, and why does it even exist anymore. Not like their weren't plenty of reasons to ask for it to be dissolved before.

Getting Serious About Iran: For Regime Change

Commentary, NY - To the contrary, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the recently elected president, announced that the Islamic Republic was reneging on its suspension agreement and ...

Afghanistan, Iraq, maybe Iran, Russia and new nukes, India talking more nukes, US shielding EU and the circus just keeps coming to town. Is no other country the least bit interested in taking one more shot at using the UN for what it was designed for? I am sure anyone reading this may feel compelled to complain about my suggestions. Consider that the UN is useless and it probably needs to be dissolved. But now would be a great time to give that 'body' one last chance to actually do something useful. There are major players involved in dealing with the current generation of conflict and resolution. There is no better time to get everyone involved and in a position to make the UN work before it is entirely abandoned. Even a loser is worth one more try. As long as the cards are on the table and every one knows how to play.

In the words of Larry the Cable Guy, 'get her done'. If it flops, get rid of it.

Thompson on the Run

Town Hall, DC - At an event for the Electronic Data Systems Corp. on April 27, he said he supported helping Iranians overthrow President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government. ...

Heading into the 2008 elections, it would be nice to resolve some of the world's issues since no one knows who will be in the White House and the example above is not ready for nonsense by his statements. That may apply to one or more other candidates but some would be a definite disadvantage in that regard.