Our Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, let the Pakistani press, and the people and government of Pakistan, know that she does not believe they are putting forth an all out effort to capture al Qaeda operatives in their country. Mrs Clinton made it clear that she finds it impossible to believe that the Pakistan government does not know where the al Qaeda terrorists are hiding.
Mrs Clinton also stated that she does not understand why the people of Pakistan are willing to give up land and let their country grow smaller as they cede parts of it to the Taliban and al Qaeda.
Tomorrow she will be meeting with top Pakistani military leaders to discuss their current war on the Taliban and al Qaeda. One thing I bet she will hear is that Pakistan wants the Afghanistan military, as well as the USA soldiers and their NATO allies to begin taking charge of their side of the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. After all, Pakistan would not have all their current Taliban and al Qaeda problems if the troops in Afghanistan had secured their border.
It will be interesting to see if Mrs Clinton's tough talk will have any positive outcome. The Negatives are already out, we'll see after her talks with the Pakistan military bring anything positive.
Yesterday she spoke of possibly cutting off aide to Pakistan. A pretty big stick, but I do not know what carrot she dangled along with it.
Richard Holbrook will probably find himself confronted with a barrel of new issues - especially hurt feelings - once Hillary leaves. Hopefully he'll be able to get the Pakistan government to work with all of the allies and bring about a meaningful peace in that mountainous region of the world.
Time will tell.
Its Common Sense!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Public Option
It appears that the Public Option of the Health Care Reform Bill is gaining some support. However, its gaining support because states will have the option not to take it.
How is the Public Option open to the public, if individual states decide if their residents will be allowed that option?
Personally, I am against the Public Option. I am against any health plan that allows the government to be in charge. The government has failed miserably managing Medicare and Medicaid, and the same can only be expected of a government run Public Option.
Repeating what i have stated in the past, the government needs to clean up Medicare and Medicaid. Make them function at a profit, get rid of the fraud and corruption and once that is accomplished, then come to the public and talk about this public option.
Tax payers are paying enough - we have to bail out banks, we bail out car companies, we have to bailout homeowners who did not do their homework before buying, we have to pay for two wars, and now we are being asked to pay other people's health care.
Its too much. There is only so much we can provide. Government needs to get big business and the health insurance companies to start paying their share. The cost of medical procedures need to be regulated. Tort reform needs to be enacted.
Clear up the current mess before creating another one with the Public Option.
Its Common Sense!
How is the Public Option open to the public, if individual states decide if their residents will be allowed that option?
Personally, I am against the Public Option. I am against any health plan that allows the government to be in charge. The government has failed miserably managing Medicare and Medicaid, and the same can only be expected of a government run Public Option.
Repeating what i have stated in the past, the government needs to clean up Medicare and Medicaid. Make them function at a profit, get rid of the fraud and corruption and once that is accomplished, then come to the public and talk about this public option.
Tax payers are paying enough - we have to bail out banks, we bail out car companies, we have to bailout homeowners who did not do their homework before buying, we have to pay for two wars, and now we are being asked to pay other people's health care.
Its too much. There is only so much we can provide. Government needs to get big business and the health insurance companies to start paying their share. The cost of medical procedures need to be regulated. Tort reform needs to be enacted.
Clear up the current mess before creating another one with the Public Option.
Its Common Sense!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Will A New Election Help Afghanistan?
Let's face it, there was plenty of fraud in the Afghanistan election, and probably not just by the Karzai crowd. Now there will be a run off. In all probability there will be more fraud, but hopefully with more of the world watching, the UN/NATO observers can keep things more on the up and up.
What will be interesting to see after the election, regardless of what happens and who wins, is if President Obama will honor the promises of all around assistance the United States offered Afghanistan. Just as important is if the United States will honor the pledges it made to Pakistan.
Again I question - why other Islamic nations are not at the fore front in attempting to bring peace to the region? Where are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Indonesia and even Turkey? Why cannot they send a peace keeping force, not only to monitor the elections but to show the people of Afghanistan that they have religious allies, not just western democratic allies?
The Islamic world needs to take the lead and show that Islam is a religion of peace. Regrettably we in the West are believing more and more every day that Islam is a religion of close minded conservative fanatics who believe that the answer to all problems is death if who do not agree with what they say.
The Islamic world needs to remind the West that they are a people of deep spirituality, who still field some of the finest doctors, teachers, lawyers, politicians and religious men in the world.
Islam needs to show peace and harmony, not chaos and war.
Maybe if other Islamic nations provide the support and guidance for the upcoming Afghanistan election, the world will see Al Qaeda and the Taliban for what they truly are, a very small and narrow minded group of fanatics within a much larger and much more enlightened Islamic majority.
Its Common Sense!
What will be interesting to see after the election, regardless of what happens and who wins, is if President Obama will honor the promises of all around assistance the United States offered Afghanistan. Just as important is if the United States will honor the pledges it made to Pakistan.
Again I question - why other Islamic nations are not at the fore front in attempting to bring peace to the region? Where are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Indonesia and even Turkey? Why cannot they send a peace keeping force, not only to monitor the elections but to show the people of Afghanistan that they have religious allies, not just western democratic allies?
The Islamic world needs to take the lead and show that Islam is a religion of peace. Regrettably we in the West are believing more and more every day that Islam is a religion of close minded conservative fanatics who believe that the answer to all problems is death if who do not agree with what they say.
The Islamic world needs to remind the West that they are a people of deep spirituality, who still field some of the finest doctors, teachers, lawyers, politicians and religious men in the world.
Islam needs to show peace and harmony, not chaos and war.
Maybe if other Islamic nations provide the support and guidance for the upcoming Afghanistan election, the world will see Al Qaeda and the Taliban for what they truly are, a very small and narrow minded group of fanatics within a much larger and much more enlightened Islamic majority.
Its Common Sense!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Afghanistan Election - Try Number 2
Even though it is evident Karzai and his cronies tried to win Afghanistan's presidental election with a little (ok, a lot of help) Karzai has agreed to run off foot in early November. The fact that he has given in without a lot of kicking and crying means, 1. that he still thinks he can win (if he cheats this time his people will hopefully be much more clever), 2. he knows he cannot survive without US and NATO support (daah!!) 3. if the USA leaves he's a dead man anyway you look at it.
So, kudos to Afghanistan. They are really trying. Even if democracy is not for them, no one can say they did not try it out.
It will be interesting to see if the Taliban gets any representation in their parliament or not. That would make things interesting.
The next month should prove to an interesting time in Afghanistan. They need the opportunity to hold their election the right way this time.
Let's hope that the fighting stays in Pakistan. If the US & NATO troops can move to the border with Pakistan, maybe a combined effort can do some serious damage to the Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters. Hopefully it will lessen tensions in Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan to allow the people to vote.
We will watch and hope for the best.
Its Common Sense!
So, kudos to Afghanistan. They are really trying. Even if democracy is not for them, no one can say they did not try it out.
It will be interesting to see if the Taliban gets any representation in their parliament or not. That would make things interesting.
The next month should prove to an interesting time in Afghanistan. They need the opportunity to hold their election the right way this time.
Let's hope that the fighting stays in Pakistan. If the US & NATO troops can move to the border with Pakistan, maybe a combined effort can do some serious damage to the Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters. Hopefully it will lessen tensions in Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan to allow the people to vote.
We will watch and hope for the best.
Its Common Sense!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Goldman-Sachs Bonuses
I have been watching and reading the news regarding the huge bonuses Goldman-Sachs plans to pay their employees this year. Since my taxpayer money went to keep them from being on the street, I want to know why there has been no mention of my bonus.
Concerned that history will repeat itself and we will have to bailout these greedy bastards again, I have written to my senators. What I want to know is if the banks have to create escrow accounts to protect themselves from future collapse. Makes sense to me. I'm curious to see what the senators have to say.
As always, feel free to use any or all of the letter to ask the same questions of your representatives.
They work for us, are they really protecting us?
Here is the letter.
Dear Senator,
Goldman-Sachs has evidently recovered from their financial crisis, and the big news is the size of the bonuses they are going to pay their employees.
It is my hope that they have paid back the entire loan that we American taxpayers provided for them, and that there was a nice interest rate on the loan. (Out of curiosity, just how much interest was on the loan?)
I notice that there is no mention of any bonuses being paid to the taxpayers who saved their sorry, greedy butts.
What I want to know is the following. As part of the bailout/loan program, did the US Congress mandate as part of the bailout process, that the banks establish escrow accounts once their profits returned to insure they would never face a disaster again? Seems to me that all this bonus money should be going into an escrow account to insure that Goldman-Sachs never has to come running for a Federal bailout again. An escrow equal to the bonuses guarantees Goldman-Sachs stability far into the future. Needless to say, I expect that all the other banks would follow the same procedure.
So, did Congress include this or a similar stipulation when they gave our money to bailout the banks? Once was enough, we never should have to do it again.
Did you protect your constituents from ever having to sacrifice for the banks (who never showed any appreciation) again?
Eagerly awaiting your response.
Michael Wolfe
Concerned that history will repeat itself and we will have to bailout these greedy bastards again, I have written to my senators. What I want to know is if the banks have to create escrow accounts to protect themselves from future collapse. Makes sense to me. I'm curious to see what the senators have to say.
As always, feel free to use any or all of the letter to ask the same questions of your representatives.
They work for us, are they really protecting us?
Here is the letter.
Dear Senator,
Goldman-Sachs has evidently recovered from their financial crisis, and the big news is the size of the bonuses they are going to pay their employees.
It is my hope that they have paid back the entire loan that we American taxpayers provided for them, and that there was a nice interest rate on the loan. (Out of curiosity, just how much interest was on the loan?)
I notice that there is no mention of any bonuses being paid to the taxpayers who saved their sorry, greedy butts.
What I want to know is the following. As part of the bailout/loan program, did the US Congress mandate as part of the bailout process, that the banks establish escrow accounts once their profits returned to insure they would never face a disaster again? Seems to me that all this bonus money should be going into an escrow account to insure that Goldman-Sachs never has to come running for a Federal bailout again. An escrow equal to the bonuses guarantees Goldman-Sachs stability far into the future. Needless to say, I expect that all the other banks would follow the same procedure.
So, did Congress include this or a similar stipulation when they gave our money to bailout the banks? Once was enough, we never should have to do it again.
Did you protect your constituents from ever having to sacrifice for the banks (who never showed any appreciation) again?
Eagerly awaiting your response.
Michael Wolfe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
