President Obama is requesting supplemental funds to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to provide domestic aide to several of the countries in the region, including Pakistan.
Needless to say, I am confused. I thought all spending requests were going to be in the budget. Seems to me that Obama was a harsh critic when Bush requested supplemental funds and keep them separated from the budget.
Of course, once you're in the Oval Office your view of the world changes noticeably. The high hopes Obama promised are beginning to fade. American troops out of Iraq in 19 months, well, not all of the troops, some kind of defensive/reactionary force will need to stay in place. How many for how long?
Dialogue with the rest of the world. Off to a good start, but thus far only smiles, no real support for the war on terror or the world depression due to the collapse of the international economy.
I know the rest of the world is feeling Obama out, he's the new kid on the block and the others want to test him and see how strong or weak he really is. We can only watch and see if the world changes its opinion of the United States.
Guantanamo prison. Closing in a year. Where will the prisoners go? Will they be put on trial, released or hidden away out of sight? Just what kind of justice will the Obama Administration offer these "terrorists"? (After all, in the United States you are innocent until proven guilty, right?)
And of course there is national economy. Debt, debt consolidation, taxes, unemployment, green
jobs and very thing else domestically.
Anyway, where is this additional money to come from? How big a debt do we have to endure? When will the tax crunch hit those of us who are working, paying our mortgages and trying to keep the economy flowing.? Twenty bucks less in taxes a pay is not a stimulus. Showing control in spending and taking control of government spending is the true stimulus the country needs.
We need to tell the president ENOUGH! There is no more money to spend. A billion in relief to Pakistan should be going to help unemployed coal miners in West Virginia and Kentucky.
Why build schools in Afghanistan when we have American Indian reservations in this country that have no schools for their children?
We need to start giving here at home, fixing what's broken here, guaranteeing a quality of life to our legal citizens before we take on the problems of the world.
Its time for America first!
Its Common Sense!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Kudos to Gates
I give Secretary of Defense Gates credit for making budget cuts in programs that we cannot afford with the present financial situation. Does the president need a new helicopter? No, the one he has is just fine, just keep up the maintenance. Billions for attack jets? Looks to me like Afghanistan is going to be a ground war. Let's take care of the boys and girls on the ground and leave the fancy flying machines for another day.
Finally someone at the Pentagon is showing the courage to tell the industrial complex enough is enough. Too much money has been wasted on projects that never are completed for the original bid. Its time the Defense department gets tough and holds industry to their word. If they cannot honor their bid, then they need to return the money and let someone who can get the job done.
I hope that other departments follw Defense's lead and start making the necessary cuts to help out our country in this time of need.
With interagency cooperation America just might be back on its feet in a couple of years.
Its Common Sense.
Finally someone at the Pentagon is showing the courage to tell the industrial complex enough is enough. Too much money has been wasted on projects that never are completed for the original bid. Its time the Defense department gets tough and holds industry to their word. If they cannot honor their bid, then they need to return the money and let someone who can get the job done.
I hope that other departments follw Defense's lead and start making the necessary cuts to help out our country in this time of need.
With interagency cooperation America just might be back on its feet in a couple of years.
Its Common Sense.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
North Korea in space
North Korea says it put a satellite into space today, broadcasting tunes from their loonytoon leader as well as taking measurements of the earth's surface.
The USA and Japan state that the satellite, if there actually was one, never made it to space, but along with the other stages of the missile, fell into the Pacific Ocean.
Needless to say people are upset, especially since North Korea has nuclear capabilities, and Mexico, which is the acting lead for the UN Security Council is calling an emergency meeting this afternoon.
Will there be sanctions? (Do they work?) Will China veto any attempt at sanctions? (Its hard to know what the Chinese are thinking or plotting.)
As President Obama continues his first international tour more pressure is putting foreign policy to the forefront and pushing domestic policy to the back. Unfortunately, our government needs to get the domestic issues resolved before it can devoted the time it needs to foreign issues.
We have already seen applause from the Europeans for the new war on terror plan, just not a lot of financial or physical support. Which puts the burden on the back's of the American tax payer, who frankly do not have too much back to offer.
While the Administration needs to keep a wary eye on international fronts, it needs to concentrate on the home front. Let's get America strong and secure internally, then we can go out and take on the world.
Its Common Sense!
The USA and Japan state that the satellite, if there actually was one, never made it to space, but along with the other stages of the missile, fell into the Pacific Ocean.
Needless to say people are upset, especially since North Korea has nuclear capabilities, and Mexico, which is the acting lead for the UN Security Council is calling an emergency meeting this afternoon.
Will there be sanctions? (Do they work?) Will China veto any attempt at sanctions? (Its hard to know what the Chinese are thinking or plotting.)
As President Obama continues his first international tour more pressure is putting foreign policy to the forefront and pushing domestic policy to the back. Unfortunately, our government needs to get the domestic issues resolved before it can devoted the time it needs to foreign issues.
We have already seen applause from the Europeans for the new war on terror plan, just not a lot of financial or physical support. Which puts the burden on the back's of the American tax payer, who frankly do not have too much back to offer.
While the Administration needs to keep a wary eye on international fronts, it needs to concentrate on the home front. Let's get America strong and secure internally, then we can go out and take on the world.
Its Common Sense!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
NATO in Afghanistan
President Obama was able to get the NATO leadership to commit five thousand more short term troops to fight the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. Unfortunately these will not be combat troops. These will be police and trainers for the Afghan military.
Currently NATO has the International Security Assistance Force in place. Their original mandate was to control and protect Kabul. Their role has expanded but they are more of a defensive force as opposed to an attack force, which is what is needed if Al Qaeda is to be brought down quickly.
It appears that the USA, Britain and Canada will be the ones providing most of the attack forces for the new phase of the war on terrorism, and of course the majority of these troops will be from the USA.
I find it interesting that those European countries who have suffered at terrorist hands - Britain, Spain, France, and Germany are not willing to make a bigger troop commitment.
I know that Britain has done their share, especially in Iraq as well as Afghanistan. And I know that Spain had a small contingent in Iraq and politics about that war caused trouble for their government.
However, this new war on terrorism is something totally different. The mistakes of the past need to stay in the past and everyone needs to stay focused on the present mission - the eradication of Al Qaeda and all their supporters. This is war to bring security to the world. This is no long about national sovereignty, this is about people being able to enjoy life without the threat of radical militants killing for the sake of killing.
My hope is that as this campaign begins that success will change the mind of our NATO allies and that they will commit additional combat troops so that the mission can be completed quickly and efficiently with the hope of peace coming to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Together NATO just might be able to bring about a real difference to the world.
We'll wait and see.
Its Common Sense!
Currently NATO has the International Security Assistance Force in place. Their original mandate was to control and protect Kabul. Their role has expanded but they are more of a defensive force as opposed to an attack force, which is what is needed if Al Qaeda is to be brought down quickly.
It appears that the USA, Britain and Canada will be the ones providing most of the attack forces for the new phase of the war on terrorism, and of course the majority of these troops will be from the USA.
I find it interesting that those European countries who have suffered at terrorist hands - Britain, Spain, France, and Germany are not willing to make a bigger troop commitment.
I know that Britain has done their share, especially in Iraq as well as Afghanistan. And I know that Spain had a small contingent in Iraq and politics about that war caused trouble for their government.
However, this new war on terrorism is something totally different. The mistakes of the past need to stay in the past and everyone needs to stay focused on the present mission - the eradication of Al Qaeda and all their supporters. This is war to bring security to the world. This is no long about national sovereignty, this is about people being able to enjoy life without the threat of radical militants killing for the sake of killing.
My hope is that as this campaign begins that success will change the mind of our NATO allies and that they will commit additional combat troops so that the mission can be completed quickly and efficiently with the hope of peace coming to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Together NATO just might be able to bring about a real difference to the world.
We'll wait and see.
Its Common Sense!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
G20
The G20 met, promised $1.1 trillion to to lend to the poor countries, but decided not to follow the US & Britain idea of giant internal stimulus packages.
Who are the G20? By continent they are:
Africa = South Africa
Asia = China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey
Australia = Australia
Europe = France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, the European Union
North America = Canada, Mexico, the United States of America
South America = Argentina, Brazil
Antarctica = No representation
Now Russia and Turkey are both actually in Asia and Europe but I limited them to one continent.
Looking at these countries what I find a little disturbing is first to realize that more than 90% of the world's wealth is held by these 20 countries. (Actually 19 countries and a multi-country entity.)
Secondly, what I find disturbing is the number of countries on this list that have such wide difference between the few with the wealth and the multitude that is poor. Countries like Indonesia and Mexico have very small middle classes. Brazil, India, and Turkey are seeing the being of a rise in the middle class, whereupon China's rising middle class might start falling back due to the current financial situation.
It is noble that they pledged funds for their poor neighbors, we'll wait and see what the reality of that pledge becomes. For the short amount of time they had together, with the disagreements and lack of unity, it will be interesting to watch how things play out.
You would think that Europe would pull together with a European plan, but that doesn't seem to be happening. The North Americans could band together, after all we have NAFTA, but with the drug wars in Mexico, its very doubtful if anyone will want to work with Mexico, and the Canadians have come out tough, so it looks like the economic recovery is going to be every nation for themselves.
Rather sad commentary that these so called "rich" nations can not come to the world's aid in a crisis like this. Unfortunately things continue as normal, everyone wanting to be top dog and refusing to compromise. These strutting leaders are not the ones who suffer, they'll be comfortable the rest of their lives. Its the people who voted them into office who have to bear the burden of what their greedy colleagues allowed to happen.
Let's hold the leaders accountable, let them know they are being watched, and that there are no guarantees in this world, especially their jobs.
Its Common Sense!
Who are the G20? By continent they are:
Africa = South Africa
Asia = China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey
Australia = Australia
Europe = France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, the European Union
North America = Canada, Mexico, the United States of America
South America = Argentina, Brazil
Antarctica = No representation
Now Russia and Turkey are both actually in Asia and Europe but I limited them to one continent.
Looking at these countries what I find a little disturbing is first to realize that more than 90% of the world's wealth is held by these 20 countries. (Actually 19 countries and a multi-country entity.)
Secondly, what I find disturbing is the number of countries on this list that have such wide difference between the few with the wealth and the multitude that is poor. Countries like Indonesia and Mexico have very small middle classes. Brazil, India, and Turkey are seeing the being of a rise in the middle class, whereupon China's rising middle class might start falling back due to the current financial situation.
It is noble that they pledged funds for their poor neighbors, we'll wait and see what the reality of that pledge becomes. For the short amount of time they had together, with the disagreements and lack of unity, it will be interesting to watch how things play out.
You would think that Europe would pull together with a European plan, but that doesn't seem to be happening. The North Americans could band together, after all we have NAFTA, but with the drug wars in Mexico, its very doubtful if anyone will want to work with Mexico, and the Canadians have come out tough, so it looks like the economic recovery is going to be every nation for themselves.
Rather sad commentary that these so called "rich" nations can not come to the world's aid in a crisis like this. Unfortunately things continue as normal, everyone wanting to be top dog and refusing to compromise. These strutting leaders are not the ones who suffer, they'll be comfortable the rest of their lives. Its the people who voted them into office who have to bear the burden of what their greedy colleagues allowed to happen.
Let's hold the leaders accountable, let them know they are being watched, and that there are no guarantees in this world, especially their jobs.
Its Common Sense!
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