America, Heal Thyself! ... J. D. Longstreet

America, Heal Thyself!
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet


Freedom in America has always been tenuous.  We don't often hear that.  In fact, we don't allow ourselves, as Americans, to even think that.  Problem is -- it is true.

The first Americans were a breed apart.  I believe that is why America, as a country, has always been different from its sister countries around the globe.

The early settlers/colonists were the sort of people we'd like to think we are today.  But we're not.

Do not think for one second that THOSE Americans would stand for a government as powerful as the US government today.  There is no way under heaven they would have allowed anyone to have that kind of power over them.

If those Americans were round today, half the Congress and the President would be tarred and feathered and ridden out of Washington City on rails ... and I don't mean on a train. 

Carving a country out of a wilderness "ain't for sissies."  Settlements, villages, towns, cities, and finally colonies were established by men and women who fought and clawed their way through a wilderness fighting, not just the elements, but indigenous natives intent on preserving the lands they rightfully felt were theirs.  (If there is a minority in the United States any worst treated than the American Indians/Native Americans, one would be hard-pressed to identify it!  Their lands were stolen, they were killed, sold into slavery and shipped from New England into slavery, torn from their ancestral homes and herded like animals halfway across a continent -- and nearly wiped out.)

Early Americans were unruly, uncouth, and determined to be free.  And they would do whatever it took to gain their freedom and preserve it.  And they did.  It was not pretty.

When the British King brought the hammer down -- they rebelled.  They went to war against the most powerful military force on the planet at the time.  Great Britain was, indeed, a superpower. But, even then, insurrections/insurgencies were exceeding difficult to deal with, especially if the defending military is at the very limits of its supply lines.  The canny American insurrectionists used all the skills they had learned wresting their new country from the ancient owners and literally wore the British superpower out.

The original thirteen colonies were free and independent. But they felt the need for a single agent to represent their interests with the other nations of the world. They created a "federal government " for just that reason. 

The federal government was a strictly controlled agent, not given much power, at all, due to the American fear of falling victim to another tyrannical government.  In fact, the original Constitution was amended ten times before some of the states would even consider signing onto and ratifying it.  Those ten amendments restricted the federal government even more than the original constitution had done.  They came to be known as "The Bill of Rights."  The freedom of Americans was a stake  and the agency of the states would not be allowed to threaten that liberty.

In the second decade of the 19th century, America once again went to war with Great Britain over freedom of the seas.  American sea vessels were being stopped at sea by British ships, boarded, and American seamen were being forcibly taken from the American ships, as well as ships of other countries, and impressed into the British Navy.   Britain was unhappy with America, to say the least, after the successful American Revolution and the historical fact that America had expansionist plans northwards into southern Canada.  The matter was settled with the shedding of blood on both sides, on land and sea, AND the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in December of 1814.  That war also gave us a poem which would be set to a British drinking song and later become the National Anthem of the United States. 

We Americans have ALWAYS been a quarrelsome bunch.  The agrarian southern states chaffed under the high taxes and tariffs levied on them -- and ONLY them--by the federal government.  In truth, the southern states were paying the US government's bills. 

Finally, in desperation, the southern states threatened to pull out of the United States and create their own country -- if the government did not address their complaints and provide some relief.  The government refused and the southern states seceded and a new country, the Confederate States of America, was born. 
Call them what you will, but a study of the un-revised history of that era will lead you to the conclusion that the people of the south saw the growing power of the federal government and wanted none of it.  Slavery was NOT the issue when the war began.  In fact, the two cities with the most slaves in America in April of 1860 were: New York City, and Charleston, South Carolina.

The American Civil War, to become known in the South as "The War for Southern Independence" would end four bloody years later with the Confederacy being forced back under the mailed fist of the US government -- at the point of a bayonet. 

Many southern Americans feel, to this day,  they are the victims of an occupation force and they still chafe under that yoke and yearn for freedom.

We call ourselves all sorts of names:  Southerners, Northerners, Westerners, and Easterners, Yankees, and Rebs -- and a slew of other names much less printable than the ones included here. 

We will tolerate, for a time, a government that goes rogue. But then we rally and throw the bums out on THEIR bums.

We have been forged into a peculiar and singular  nation in a crucible of fire and blood mixed with sweat and tears.  After all, a diamond was once a piece of coal. It was pressure that triggered the metamorphosis.

The struggle for freedom is eternal.  Freedom requires high maintenence.  Its value cannot be appreciated -- until you pay the price.  So far, Americans have been more than willing to pay the price, not only for their own freedom, but for that of people around the globe.

I sometimes think Americans need to stop, take a deep breath, and remember who, exactly, we are.  We are an amalgam of the best and brightest of all the colors, races and tribes on earth.  We are a hybrid -- or a mutt. But we ARE different. 

And we are free -- not nearly as free as we once were -- but we are free to change even that.   Experience tells me we are about reclaim our lost liberty by shaking up our government yet again. 

Freedom is far too precious to allow an arrogant,  power hungry, over reaching government to have more than a brief lifespan.  Americans have now seen that an arrogant socialist ideologue is a clear and present danger to America's freedom and liberty.  That will be corrected very soon.

We Americans ARE strange, peculiar, different -- and free.  And we mean to stay that way.  America needs to put her house in order and we will do that in November.

J. D. Longstreet

Is America An Idiotocracy? ... J. D. Longstreet

Is America An Idiotocracy?
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

To quickly answer the question above, one has only to point to the obvious -- the election of Barack Hussein Obama as President of the United States.

I took a few minutes to look up the term "idiotocracy."  Turns out Alexander Pope gets the credit for "inventing" this particular term to reference a form of politics or political philosophy.  Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer.  He postulated the following: "Forms of government, let fools contend. The best is that best administered."(Emphasis mine) 

Since so many commentators have taken license with the meaning of idiotocracy, I shall not restrain myself.

For those not familiar with the US Constitution allow me to point out, and proudly, that it allows Americans to be stupid and idiotic.  And, as history records, we have taken full advantage of that privilege/right -- and with gusto!  And, time and again we have paid the price.

I became enthralled with history as child, especially history of western civilization.  I still am.  To understand America, one must understand America's ancestry.  There is no better place to begin than with northern Europe.

In America Yours Truly is known as a "Southerner."  I was born and reared in the "South."  That's important, because the southern states were settled by people of Celtic ancestry for a time -- almost exclusively.

The Celts were famous, or infamous, for their willingness to fight at the drop of a hat and, at the same time, their love of freedom was and remains legendary.  One has only to inquire of the Romans concerning both Celtic attributes -- if the Romans were still around, that is. 

The northern states of America were settled by Europeans from the north of Europe -- countries like Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, Sweden, etc.  And there was a great influx, later, by people from southern Europe such as Italy and Greece.

That area we call the Mid-West (Turns out it is NOT the Mid-West, but it is too late to change it now!) was, for the most part, settled by Americans who were pretty much PO'd with the rest of us on the eastern seaboard and decided to cross the Appalachian Mountains in search of sanctuary -- and land.  They found the land.  Sanctuary?  Well, not so much.  They were not particularly adventuresome.  They were looking for land they could call their own and some peace and quiet.  They paid dearly for both.

It is my contention that the West was settled by people who were, in fact, seeking a new home, many having been made destitute by The War Between the States. Amongst the settlers of the west were opportunist, fortune seekers,  ex-military types, and some who were just plain ornery.   Most of them, however, just  needed a second chance.   They were, unquestionably,  an eclectic bunch of people.

The difference between Americans on the eastern seaboard and the western seaboard is, well, legendary. 
One must remember that here, on the eastern seaboard of the United States, the thirteen original colonies (later states) were, before forming the federal government, thirteen separate and sovereign countries. 

One of the reasons, I believe, The War Between the States is so misunderstood today is because we don't know America's history.

Before the so-called Civil War in America, a man's allegiance was to his "state."  The federal government had been created by those separate states, or countries, to act as an agent of the states, not the other way around.   So a man did not feel compelled to support the union.  He DID, however, feel bound to support his state, which WAS his country.  Contrary to much of today's historical records, and the entertainment industry, the idea of the United States as a "country" did not take hold until well after Reconstruction. 

When you understand how folks felt about their states in the 1860's, you can understand why, for instance, Robert E. Lee turned down Lincoln's offer to command the Union Army and instead chose to fight with/for his state/country -- Virginia.   It sheds a totally different light on the reasons for that unnecessary war.  

The southern people never felt bound to the United States.  So far as they were concerned, the federal government was a "hireling" from which they could separate themselves whenever they chose.  There was nothing within the constitution they had signed onto that said they could not.

Even today, the southern people of America still feel a degree of allegiance to their state and region that is not shared by other regions of America for their states  and it remains uncomfortable for the federal government.  

I say all the above in an attempt to help non-Americans (as well as a good portion of modern Americans, too)  get a grasp of what motivates Americans to do the stupid and idiotic things we do.

See, we're not bound by our history as so much of the world is.  If fact, few Americans even know their history.   Americans dont feel the need to explore their past in order to plot and navigate their future.  We operate on the "Bumblebee Theory." which says -- the Bumblebee is aerodynamically unable to fly.  However, the Bumblebee doesn't know it, so he just goes ahead and flies, anyway."

America is, in many way, un-tethered to its past.  That might be good for innovation, but it precludes us from learning the lessons of the past and how to apply those lessons to today and, indeed, on into the future.  We are at an advantage -- and a disadvantage -- at the same time.

We are eclectic, and unpredictable.  Like a blindfolded giant we tend to stagger one way and then the other. We make mistakes.  Then we recover -- and then make the same mistake again. 

Some say our most recent national blunder was the election of Barack Obama as President.  The electorate was drunk on the idea of electing the nation's first black President.  It did not matter that we were electing a socialist with definite Marxist tendencies.  We needed to make a statement to the world that racism in America was over.  It was a fantasy, but, as I said, the electorate was intoxicated.

It was a mistake of biblical proportions.  Not only is America paying the price for this tragic error, the entire world has been adversely affected.

No, we are not a nation of idiots, but collectively we can certainly act as if we were.

A "sober" electorate will strive to reverse the mistake we made in 2008 come this November.  There is no certainty, on either side about the outcome of the election.  But one thing IS certain -- it will take generations to heal and generations to repair the damage done to our nation -- and the world. 

No, we're not idiots -- just Americans.

J. D. Longstreet          

Obama's "Fairness" Equals Socialism

Obama's "Fairness" Equals Socialism
Redistribution of the Nation's Wealth
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

On the tenth of April, 2012, at the Florida Atlantic University, President Obama stated: "This is not some socialist dream ... " I would beg to disagree. That is exactly what it is. And it is HIS dream, not mine, and it is not a dream the majority of Americans share.

It doesn't take a college degree in politics and/or government to know socialism when you see it, especially for my generation. We grew up fighting it. I mean, we literally took up arms against socialism.

Today in America, socialism has a death grip on the Oval Office of the President of the United States. Far from fighting socialism, as a President of a free country ought to do, Obama has embraced it and is now proselytizing for socialism. He sounds more like a missionary sent from the old Soviet Union to bring America the gospel of socialism than he does the president of a capitalist, democratic country. Sad to say, Obama resembles Hugo Chavez more every day.

President Obama, who has been calling for tax increases on the wealthy in America to "spread the wealth around," is vehemently denying that his tax increases on the rich are an attempt to "redistribute wealth."

Let me state this as clearly and concisely as I can: The President of the United States is telling us a lie. And it is a malicious lie, because he KNOWS he is lying!

Redistribution of a nation's wealth IS socialism, period.

Look. Those of us who went to private and parochial schools (and even to public schools before the federal government moved in and "dumbed-down" the curriculum) can read, write, and reason. We KNOW what socialism is -- and we know he is lying!

However, we make a mistake by thinking that Obama is talking to us. He is not. He is talking to his base, the voters who put him in office in 2008. Governor Chris Christie, of New Jersey, nailed it just a few day ago. Paraphrasing, he said, we have become a people sitting on the couch waiting for the government check to arrive. And THAT is Obama's base.

What do they care what kind of government the United States has? Just keep those checks rolling in, babe!

Obama wants to take money from the "Makers" and give it to the "Takers." When a government takes money from the job creators, it means fewer jobs will be created. That is just basic economics. I learned in high school.

Here's a truism for you: Any time you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can count on the support of Paul! Obama is counting on that support.

Remember back in 2008 when Obama was running for his first term as President and he told "Joe the Plumber" the following: "I’m gonna cut taxes a little bit more for the folks who are most in need and for the 5 percent of the folks who are doing very well – even though they’ve been working hard and I appreciate that – I just want to make sure they’re paying a little bit more in order to pay for those other tax cuts." He was speaking to Samuel Wurzelbacher (aka Joe the Plumber). By the way, Samuel, or "Joe," is now running for Congress -- as a republican. Joe got the message. He saw the threat in what Obama said.

Nothing has changed since 2008. Obama is STILL preaching his message of socialism for America, only he is being very careful not to use the words "socialism" or "socialist" -- except -- when denying he is one -- which he most assuredly is.

Obama is spoon-feeding socialism to his base and they are lapping it up!
"I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody." Obama said that back in 2008 and it made cold chills race up and down my spine.

America has seven months, only seven months, to decide if she wants to live free or die in slavery. The choice could not be clearer.

Now that the GOP candidate has been chosen, not officially, but chosen, nevertheless, it is time to turn all republican political guns on Obama and spread the word that the man is an out and out socialist and his agenda for America is to trash capitalism, which he believes has failed, and institute socialism.

Conservative voters must convince America that we are in a fight for freedom. What was once a fight to restore America has now become a fight for the very life, the very existence, of a free America.

The fight would be more energized if the GOP had a candidate that could light a fire in the hearts of conservatives. It is conservatives who provide the energy in republican campaigns. But, sadly, we don't. As some wizen head one said: "We go to war with the army we have." And we have Romney -- who does not inspire conservatives one iota.

If conservatives are to make a difference in the coming election, we have to forget about Romney and concentrate on voting against Obama. THAT should be the battle cry.

 As much as I personally dislike Mr. Romney, I just don't believe he would knowingly do anything that would threaten freedom and democracy in America. I cannot say that about Obama.

At this moment in history, voters must concentrate, not so much on restoring America, but on SAVING America. To do that Obama MUST be defeated in November.

J. D. Longstreet

See Why Israel Doesn't Trust Obama?

See Why Israel Doesn't Trust Obama?

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

Not only has our beloved "Dear Leader," Obama, managed to "PO" Israel even more, he has now "PO'ed" the Baku government of Azerbaijan.   By leaking news, recently,  that Israel and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement for Israeli aircraft to have landing rights at Azeri airbases, Obama has infuriated Israel's Netanyahu government even more and may have compromised Azerbaijan's relations with Iran (shaky as they may be), as well.     

In case you missed it when looking at a map, Azerbaijan is the small country snuggled tightly against the northern border of Iran.  There are roughly sixteen million Azeris (The people of Azerbaijan).

Now here's the thing:  Azerbaijan's government and the Israeli government have become, er, friends.  The only people who are having a problem with this is the Obama Administration in America --  and the Ahmadinejad Administration in Iran. Suddenly, it would seem, the US and Iran are BOTH going after Israel.

We have told you for months and even years that the Netanyahu government in Israel does not trust the Obama administration in the US and that is why the Israelis refuse to give Obama a heads-up on an attack on Iran.  They are convinced (as am I) that the Obama Administration would immediate pick up the phone and call Iran and tell Ahmadinejad  "the Israelis are coming."

Far-fetched, you say?  Believe what you want, but the truth is -- Obama's people have already tipped off Iran that there is a pact of some sort between the Baku government in Azerbaijan and the Netanyahu government in Israel possibly for landing rights for Israeli combat aircraft on Azerbaijan soil.

Israeli attack aircraft cannot make it to Iran, drop their ordinance, and make a return flight to Israel without refueling.  For that reason, an air raid on Iran by Israeli jets has been considered a "suicide mission."  Lack of fuel would not allow Israeli aircraft to loiter over their targets or even fend off attacks by the Iranian air forces. A second run on a target would be compromised by low fuel.

In-flight refueling could solve that problem, IF it could be done over friendly territory, which is sorely lacking in that neighborhood. Damaged aircraft would simply have to be abandoned.  If Israeli pilots chose to bail-out of their foundering jets, it was/is a given they would be captured and killed or languish for years in an enemy prison.  

Those Azerbaijan airbases make perfect refueling bases -- and forward bases for Israeli search and rescue units -- for an air raid on Iran's nuclear facilities, and an emergency landing field for damaged aircraft.  

It is no secret that the American President's favor lies with the Muslim countries of the world.  He has made that abundantly clear since he first entered the office of President of the United States.  And Israel wisely does not trust him.    

"We're watching what Iran does closely," one of the U.S. sources, an intelligence officer engaged in assessing the ramifications of a prospective Israeli attack confirmed. "But we're now watching what Israel is doing in Azerbaijan. And we're not happy about it."  -- This is a quote from an article by Mark Perry at FOREIGN POLICY.COM.   It is an excellent article and we recommend you read the entire piece. (SOURCE)

The Azeris and the Persians tolerate each other -- but just! There are those who fear that IF Azerbaijan does allow Israel to use its airbases for an attack on Iran, Iran might use that as an excuse to reclaim Azerbaijan as a part of the so-called "Mother Persia" and make a military move against their northern neighbor.

And then there is the solidly based concern that Russia may step in and create trouble in Azerbaijan to foil any attempt by Israel to use those Azeri airbases.  With Putin in charge in Russia, it is certainly within the realm of possibility.   Putin's Russia will again be seeking to expand its influence in the Caucasus. 

By and large, the people of America stand with Israel -- even if their President does not. Obama is the most divisive American president since Abraham Lincoln.  You may recall that upon Lincoln's election eleven American states pulled out of the Union.  Many Americans feel the Presidential Election in November of 2012 is every bit as important as the 1860 election, which broke apart the United States.

As Israel and many other countries of the world still look to the United States for assistance and direction, America is roiling in a national controversy to decide if the nation remains a constitutional republic or adopts socialism and dumps the constitution and representative government. The American people's attention is turned inward at this moment in history and that is allowing the mice to come out and play.

When Obama removed America from a leadership role in the world, it opened the door to all sorts of mischief around the globe.  An isolationist America has a history of producing deadly wars, some even global in scope.

Israel, the best friend to America in the Middle East, has been forced to look elsewhere for alliances simply because Obama refuses to maintain America's alliance established almost the moment Israel became a country/ state.  

The point is simple:  Had Obama maintained the long-standing relationship the US had with Israel, then there would have been no need for Israel to seek friends -- and assistance -- elsewhere.  As a result, there is a strong possibility the US will be drawn into a war in the Caucasus -- as well as a war in the Persian Gulf -- when Israel strikes Iran.

There can be no doubt Israel WILL strike Iran.  They have no choice. Otherwise, Israel will be wiped from the map just as Iran has promised so often to do.

If an alliance with Azerbaijan will help Israel destroy the Iranian nuclear facilities, then more power to them.  May the God of Israel bless them and "make straight their "aim."

J. D. Longstreet

Americans Are NEVER Alone 

Big Government Is Watching And Listening to EVERYTHING.

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

Americans are no longer free.  You are kidding yourself if you continue to think that you, as an American, are free.

The US government has shredded the US Constitution and done away with American’s privacy.  It simply doesn’t exist anymore.

We are watched and listened to every moment of every day.  From the moment our feet hit the floor in the morning until we go to bed at night.  Even while we sleep, the looming hand of government hangs over us like a Damocles Sword.  Every movement we make is tracked.

The government monitors every phone call we make.  The government monitors every email we send.  Leave your home and facial recognition cameras pick up your movement on the city streets and highways. 

Even inside our homes, the government has the ability to see through the very walls and watch our movements. 

Driving on our streets and highways government agents with Back Scatter x-rays can see into your automobile, truck, or van, and see clearly what and who, is inside. 

Soon, the US government will be flying drones over America to keep tabs on its citizens just as the government already does to our enemies. In a matter of months,  local police department drones will join government drones in our skies – all WATCHING YOU (and ME)!

Send you kids to school with a lunch mommy prepared just for them, and some government bureaucrat snatches the bag and checks it to see if the child’s parents are feeding their kids the foods the GOVERNMENT wants their kids to have – not the foods mommy and daddy want their kids to eat and enjoy. 

I saw an article, the other day,  that noted that some cities are considering forbidding citizens from smoking on their own property if they are OUTSIDE the house. 

Americans dare not fill in a mud hole on their property for fear the federal government will arrest them for defiling a “wetland” of some sort.

The government has decided we are a nation of fat people.  Have you looked at the government Body Mass Index?  If I lived by that thing  -- I’d look like a stick!

On the Internet, your favorite search engine will soon know more about you than you very own family knows.

I have warned often in the past about RFID transmitters in the items you buy in your local big box store.  It is a radio transmitter which tracks the garment you purchased and will allow the person, or persons, or government, with a received tuned to that frequency to track wherever you go when you are wearing that garment. 

I have just scratched the surface in this commentary.  It is much worse than we "formerly" free Americans can even guess.

Look.  I am so old I can remember WHEN AMERICA WAS ACTUALLY A FREE COUNTRY.  So, every time the government twists the screws another turn I feel it more than most … my whole generation does. 

But we don’t matter anymore. 

We had our shot at life and now, as we approach the grave, heck, we’re just old fuddy-duddies muttering gibberish about an America that was once the greatest nation on the face of the earth -- precisely because we were free!

The conduct of America’s government today rivals and even “mirrors” that of the old Soviet Union, and 1930’s Germany under the rule of der Furher!  It sure as heck does not mirror the US Constitution!  But, then again, Americans have been brainwashed in our public school system, over the past two generations, that the US Constitution is a “living, breathing,” document that can be changed or ignored at the whim of the government.  Can you believe it?   Can you believe there are fully grown, adult, America men and women who actually believe the constitution is no longer relevant?  

Why, I even heard one of our Supreme Court Justices say recently that she would not recommend the US constitution as a model for new governments to consider when writing their own, and most likely, their FIRST constitution.

And you know the worst of it?  I don’t believe there is the chance of a snowball rolling clear across Hades, in the middle of August, that today’s Americans have the stones to confront the US government and demand that it (the government and all of American society) be ruled by the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights!

Like Pavlov’s dog, we have been taught to react when the government rings the bell. We’ve become a nation of lackeys for a government that is crushing freedom out of existence in America. It makes no difference if a velvet fist -- or a mailed fist is crushing America -- the end result is the same – crushing slavery.

Americans now belong to a single huge plantation stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border.  Our owners are in those two big white houses in Washington, DC.  But, hey, we are going to clothed, fed, and have our medical needs taken care of so – what’s to complain about?

Problem is – most Americans today do not know the answer to that fundamental question.  Ignorance of that answer has sentenced America to lifelong slavery for its citizens and a place in the dustbin of history alongside other grand experiments that also failed.

To learn who, exactly, is ultimately responsible for America’s failure – one has only to look in a mirror.

J. D. Longstreet

The Democrat’s “REAL” War Not So Real After All

The Democrat’s “REAL” War Not So Real After All

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet 

Americans have been accused of having the shortest collective memory of any people on earth.  Back when I was but a wee lad, I brushed that off.  Common sense told it was what we used to call in the advertising business  “Puffing.”  Puffing is rhetoric that is known to be untrue but is often used to make a point.  Back in the old days even the federal government allowed a limited amount of puffing in advertising.

Note that above I said the “Common sense told me….  .”  Problem is, these days common sense is certainly not common, and those expressing an opinion based on common sense are frowned upon and often mocked.

We have often stated the political left does not understand making war.  They have shown us time and again they do not understand the military, itself, nor how to apply military strength against an enemy of the US.   Their naiveté is such that they cannot grasp the simplest military tactic.  And they totally do not grasp the meaning behind the old saw:  “All’s fair in love and WAR.”

You may recall that we railed against the Obama Regimes’ public announcement of the date US troops would be withdrawn from Iraq.  You may also recall, we predicted that Iraq would slip back in to anarchy and eventually wind up under the control of another “strongman dictatorship” akin to the one headed by Saddam Hussein, which we overthrew at a rather high cost to America.  It was a cost, which Americans paid in blood and treasure.

Hardly had the dust (kicked up by American forces leaving Iraq) settled until the struggle for a new dictatorship was underway.  It is plain to everyone that our effort in Iraq was a total waste of time, effort, treasure, and blood. 

It is universally understood that when at war with a nation or a stateless rag-tag group of irregulars such as the Islamofacists we’ve been fighting for over ten years now, you do not telegraph your next move.  And you certainly do not openly inform them of the date you intend to leave the battlefield.

But Obama did.  Now Iraq is lost … again, and will most likely necessitate another war with Iraq at some point in the future.

That was bad enough.  But now Obama is doing it all again in Afghanistan.  The Taliban has openly boasted they have beaten America and will rebuild their forces and move to take over Afghanistan as soon as American forces are out of the country.  Unlike the Obama Regime, the Taliban is smart.  The Taliban has completely flummoxed the American Commander-in-Chief and, yes, they will have beaten the American military as a result of the catastrophically poor leadership from Obama. 

Obama’s awful leadership as a war commander has unnecessarily cost many lives of American military men and women and will, undoubtedly, cost even more as he compounds his mistakes on the battlefield with his blunders in foreign policy in the Middle East.

At the moment, while a very short fuse is burning on the powder keg in the Middle East, Obama is attempting to “talk” with Iran.

Only a fool would suppose that talks with Iran are anything more that a sham and an instrument to stall America -- AND Israel -- and buy more time for Iran to realize their dream of building an “Islamic Bomb,” (an atomic bomb), which they have every intention of using on both America and Israel.

Obama has proven to be Iran’s best weapon against the non-Islamic world.

The bottom line is this:  America is in deep trouble and needs a replacement for Obama who will deal a crushing blow against the terror nations of the Middle East.  It has been called a “Peace Through Victory” policy.

It is clear that anything less that a resounding victory is a total waste of time when dealing with the masters of hyperbole.  They can, and will, make anything less into a victory for themselves and spoon-feed that propaganda to their followers who will lap it up with gusto.  It will stoke their anger and enmity toward the US. 

As a lad I was taught to say little because it lends importance and gravitas to what you DO say.  For three years we have had a constant stream of talk from Obama, yea, even rivers of rhetoric flowing from our supposed leader.  His continuous talking has lent new meaning to the phrase: “talk is cheap.”

Our new leader must be a man of few words and more action, especially towards America’s enemies.  America is tired of towering talk and flowing phrases. It is past time to stop talking and starting doing.

J. D. Longstreet 

Israel Edges Closer to Iran Attack

Israel Edges Closer to Iran Attack

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

Israel (and the world) is edging closer, everyday, to an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Completely disgusted with the Obama Regime’s “pretty please” approach to diplomacy with Iran, and frustrated with the US government’s “hovering” and insistence that Israel notify the US before any such attack, Israel is leaning forward and chomping at the bit to make the hit and make it ASAP.

Recent reports tell of an Israeli drone capable of reconnaissance, surveillance,  -- and attack – that crashed on a test flight over Israel recently.  News reports of the incident resulted in tensions being raised one more notch.

The Israeli drone – a Heron TP – has a range of well over 4,000 miles.  Iran is roughly 1,000 miles from Israel. 

The Heron is a BIG airplane.  It has a wingspan nearly equal to that of a 737 Airliner -- approximately 85 feet. It can carry a payload of well over a ton. 

According to a report in the Washington Times the Heron TP, which soars as high as 40,000 feet, would likely play a key role in an attack on Iran.  The plane can be utilized for recon and surveillance or “for firing rockets, and can be used in a variety of missions such as aerial refueling, jamming communications and relaying ground control in Israel to manned aircraft over a distant target.”  (SOURCE)

The Heron TP is not a new aircraft.  It has been in service for at least two years.

While Israel feels pressure from Iran, it also must keep an eye over it’s should watching the “New” Egyptian government.  Egypt’s recently elected parliament has said it has no intention of renewing the its long standing peace treaty with Israel.  To Israel’s north, Syria is in flames with Assad’s government slaughtering its citizens in a near Syrian civil war. 

It is not outside the realm of possibility that Assad, Syria’s dictator, could stir up trouble with it’s southern neighbor, Israel, to redirect the attention of it’s people and take some of the pressure off Syria’s unpopular government.

Israel is in a world of trouble with threats from all sides -- not including the so-called Palestinians, who are, in fact, Arabs.  They are pushing the UN to carve a Palestinian state out of Israeli land.

The entire Middle East is in flames with a regional war almost certain in the immediate future.  Any “regional” war in the Middle East, will, of necessity, involve most of the industrialized nations of the west – including the US and the UK.  The Middle East is, of course, the source of much of the world’s oil and that oil must continue to flow even if the price is paid, as it almost certainly will be, in blood.

Here in America, we are confused at our government’s downsizing of the US military.  It makes no sense.  We are on the cusp of a war that has the potential to make the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq … and even Libya, look like Sunday School picnics. 

I have a theory as to why Obama is pushing this draw down of the US military.  It is far-fetched, I grant you, but the Obama Regime is a past master at utterly stupid decision making, so this theory is as good as anyone else’s – at the moment.

Hypothetically, just suppose, the idea is to allow the Middle East to engage in a war with very little involvement by the US.  It would most likely be a protracted war that would reduce the flow of oil to a trickle.  That would send oil prices and fuel prices for transportation, fuel to heat our homes, and the myriad other uses we have for petroleum products astronomically high. 

Americans would, of necessity, be forced to cut back on oil consumption.  That would, supposedly, be good for the environment. Of course, our economy would collapse entirely and set the stage for a takeover of the American government by socialists who will provide a way to “restore” America -- as a socialist country.

Far-fetched, you say?  Really?  Is it really THAT far-fetched?  Think about it:  These are leftists, Marxists, socialists, communists, democrats, anarchists, and yes, environmentalist.  We have come to believe that environmentalism is nothing more that a religion based on Marxism.

Remember:  Just because it is a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean there isn’t a conspiracy.

The US is about to be drawn into a near world war – and we are cutting back our military?   This entire scenario lends itself to all sorts of conspiracy theories.  I’m sure you have your own.

In the meantime, the Obama Regime is allowing our only friend in the region, Israel, to hang out there, twisting in the wind, feeling for all the world like a sacrificial lamb.

Yes, a war between Israel and Iran is on the agenda.  It could be months away, or it could be before sunrise tomorrow. And it could be a nuclear war.       

J. D. Longstreet

There Are None So Blind As Those Who Will Not See

There Are None So Blind As Those Who Will Not See

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

I received the article below recently by e-mail as I expect many of you did.  I have no clue as to the author.  The message it contains is profound.

Many of my generation remember Castro -- even before he proclaimed he was a communist by his words and deeds.  By that time, the people of Cuba were enslaved.  The nearest freedom lay ninety miles away -- across a watery divide.  The “five and ten cents” stores sold Castro hats and Castro beards to America’s children.  Castro’s façade was THAT complete and THAT effective. 

Many conservative commentators have been warning America for four years that unmistakable signs of communism are emanating from the leader of our nation.  The warning flags went up long before he was elected.  They were ignored. 

Those issuing the warnings have been scoffed at, belittled, and made the butt of jokes.  It matters not that those warning America to beware were, and are, men and women of experience.  Their words of caution have come from a lifetime of defending America in and out of uniform.

See, we recognize the philosophy of America’s leader.  Why?  The answer is simple … because we have seen it all before.  If fact, we saw it in our neighboring country … Cuba.  We watched as Cuba embraced a charismatic savior with flowing oratory who quickly became their slave master.  

“There are none so blind as those who WILL NOT SEE.”   John Heywood is credited with having said this way back in 1546.  It is as true today as it was then … and even before Heywood made the remark.

In 2008, America underwent a period of willful blindness during which voters elected America’s current leader.  Over the past three years, the scales have been slowly falling from our eyes as we survey the damage that mistake has caused the United States of America … and the world.  

Whoever the author of the piece below, he/she has also seen the many disguises communism uses to successfully attract those who do not have the benefit of experience.  Like moths to a flame, they flock to the warmth of the bright light that will consume them.

To those of us with a lifetime of experience, the Obama Regime is all too familiar and utterly frightening.

Please read the article below.  The author is unknown to us.

J. D. Longstreet

************************  

What others see plainly, we often ignore.

*Here's something to think about. * 

*******************

I remember asking dad about Castro when I was about 9 years old. I asked, "Is Castro a good guy or bad?"

Dad said...he couldn't tell!! This was about 1955. We were living in Louisiana ...at the time. Dad was in the Army there.

Cuba was fairly close and in the news a lot. The Cubans were asking the same question!

Ike was President.

This past July, we had the pleasure of sharing a summer barbecue with a refugee from Cuba. Our dinner conversation was starkly different than most.

This refugee came to the United States as a young boy in the early 1960's. His family was more fortunate than most, as they were able to bring a suitcase...and $100 when they fled Castro's newly formed revolutionary paradise.

Our dinner consisted of all-American fare: hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon, and fresh ears of sweet corn. This is a menu shared with family and friends nationwide...while celebrating the birth of our beloved America ...on the Fourth of July.

We began with a simple discussion about our country, and the direction it has taken since Barack Obama came to power. We shared the usual complaints about the sour economy and liberal social engineering emanating from the rulers in Washington.

But then he said it. The sentence came naturally. I assume it was unplanned. But it carried the weight of a freight train. "You know, when Castro took power, none of us knew he was a Communist.”

We sat stunned. He continued, "Yes, we all thought he was a patriot, a nationalist. Before the revolution he didn't sound like a radical."

The comparison at this point was easy, and I interjected, "You mean just like Barack Obama?"

He responded; "Yes, just like Barack Obama."

He continued, "We were all shocked as the government just continued to grab more power. First they said the revolution is over, so please turn in your guns. We all complied."

I remember my uncle saying after it started; “Castro will only nationalize some of the big industries. He will never come and take our family hardware store!!” But that is exactly what happened. Castro started with the sugar mills and the large industries, but they eventually came and knocked on the door of our family hardware store. My family had run this store for generations. They said we now own the hardware store. You work for us. And that nice, large four-bedroom home you own...it is now our property also, and ... you can move yourself and five children into two rooms of the house, because others are moving in with you."

The lesson learned from this discussion, is a lesson most Americans refuse to hear. Political leaders can lie about their agenda and once in office...they can take totally unexpected turns.

If you had asked us three years ago if we thought General Motors would be nationalized, we would have never believed it. We could never contemplate a country where the rule of law, the most fundamental building block of a just society...would be evaporating, just like it did in Castro's Cuba in the early 1960's.

But the news of injustice keeps increasing. Black Panthers are not charged with wrong doing by the U.S. Department of Justice...because their crimes are against whites. The bondholders of GM are stripped of their assets...without due process by the government! Governmental leaders are bribed in full daylight...only to have all investigation of the crimes stifled...by the Attorney General.

The U.S. borders are over run with crime and illegal activity, and the leaders in D.C. act as if it is important to protect the lawbreakers.... while the innocent are killed and over run. When local communities attempt to enforce the law, they are ridiculed...and threatened as racists and bigots. They are sued by the very administration...entrusted with enforcing the law.

Without the rule of law, the U.S. Constitution is a sham!! Without the rule of law, our beloved America is swiftly becoming a country where only the well connected and politically powerful will be safe. As Michelle Malkin has so eloquently explained in her recent book...a culture of corruption has replaced honest government.

The only way this problem will be fixed is by massive citizen action. All honest citizens that want to be treated equally, must come together...and demand that the favoritism, the bribes, the uneven enforcement of law...end now!!

And yes, IT CAN HAPPEN HERE!!

Democrat Code Words for Socialism

Democrat Code Words for Socialism

Fairness, Fair Share, income inequality, etc

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

Wouldn’t it be nice if the Democrats would simply drop their façade and admit they have morphed into some sort of American breed of a socialist political party?

In the past few months, even years, my teeth have been set on edge when I have listened to their rhetoric about “fairness,” in this or that, and their use of the words “fair share” to drive a wedge between the American classes, and especially the words, or phrase, “income inequality” which seals the deal.  

When a nation seeks income equality it is assuming socialism as its core philosophy.  Income inequality is the clarion call for redistribution of a nation’s wealth. It is as simple and as basic as that.

In the past two decades I have slowly come to the realization that the dumbing down of Americans is near completion.  It has taken approximately 50 years to realize, but the leftist movement in America successfully infiltrated and gained control of America’s public education system.  Now we have a full generation and most of a second generation who have no clue what America is about.  They don’t have a clue what their freedom cost.  They don’t have a clue that the federal government was created by the states to serve the states as an agent.  They have been taught -- and they believe -- that the people of the states are subservient to the federal government.  They do not understand that the Bill of Rights is a protection for the American people from their federal government.  Those ten amendments restrain the federal government in the interest of the people. 

Most of our young Americans today don’t know the difference between the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.  Don’t believe me?  Ask ‘em!

I have mentioned in previous articles that as a solider in the US military I was trained to meet and combat socialism on the battlefield.  It was rightly recognized as an enemy of freedom.  It was recognized as a form of government that was destined to fail, but before its demise, it would enslave the people of any nation that was so utterly stupid as to even try it.  No nation has yet survived socialism.

Europe is teetering on the edge of complete disaster simply because they have run out of other people’s money with which to pacify their populace after decades of coddling and teaching them to depend on their government for their very existence.

The USSR is now a footnote in history.

Yet, despite the fact that America was nearly crushed under the weight of a mere sampling of socialism, the left persists in their socialist agenda for America.

In 2008, they managed to elect a socialist as President of the United States.  In 2010 the people of the political right in America successfully blunted the socialist left’s endeavor to shove America deeper into socialism.  Conservatives were successful in retaking a majority of the Congress.

Now we have a chance to solidify conservative control of the American government by refusing to reelect the socialist in the White House this November. 

It was clear after the President’s State of the Union address that their next step is to incite a class war in America.  The great-unwashed masses in America must be taught to hate the “patricians” and the “plutocrats” – the very people who financed -- and continue to finance -- America’s success as the greatest nation in the history of mankind. 

The wealthy Americans must be brought low and their wealth confiscated and redistributed to the – ahem – less fortunate among us.  That is what I like to refer to as: BOVINE SCATOLOGY!

Nevertheless, their efforts to incite class warfare has been more successful than most think. It ought to be.  It has been an underground movement for at least nine decades now.  With the left’s capture of the Oval Office the socialist were emboldened to rise to the surface and ram their agenda through the national legislature. 

But the right stopped them in 2010.  That, dear reader, is why we now see the President’s abuse of the power of the Executive Order.  Obama is intent on diluting democratic freedom in America by infusing socialism into every agency and administration under the control of the executive branch of the government.

Americans must retake control of their government in November and free it from the clutches of the socialist elite who have dipped their fangs into America’s bloodstream and are sucking her dry.

America needs a champion who will lead from the front.  A leader who take a stand on the deck of our sinking ship of state, much as the Father of the US Navy, Captain John Paul Jones, when his ship was blown to bits and sinking from enemy fire.  When asked if he was prepared to surrender Jones famously replied:  “I have not yet BEGUN to fight!” Against all odds, Jones won the battle and took the enemy ship.

THAT is the spirit we need, indeed, the spirit it will take to lead America out of the muck and mire of socialism, put her back on course, trim her sails, and stir for the safe harbor of capitalism and freedom.

It is a life or death decision we Americans will make in November -- the life or death of America.

J. D. Longstreet

Americans Continue to Arm Themselves In Record Numbers

Americans Continue to Arm Themselves In Record Numbers

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

The last two months of 2011 saw Americans buying guns in record numbers.  December 23^rd saw more guns bought in one day that ever before.  It set a record.

In an article at “The Telegraph,” a British News site, entitled: “Americans buy record numbers of guns for Christmas,” Nick Allen writes:  “According to the FBI, over 1.5 million background checks on customers were requested by gun dealers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in December. Nearly 500,000 of those were in the six days before Christmas.


It was the highest number ever in a single month, surpassing the previous record set in November.


On Dec 23 alone there were 102,222 background checks, making it the second busiest single day for buying guns in history.


The actual number of guns bought may have been even higher if individual customers took home more than one each.” (SOURCE)

Mr. Allen goes on to say:  “Explanations for America's surge in gun buying include that it is a response to the stalled economy with people fearing crime waves. Another theory is that buyers are rushing to gun shops because they believe tighter firearms laws will be introduced in the future.” (SOURCE)

To be sure BOTH the explanations mentioned above are valid -- but there’s more to it that that.

Back in January of 2009, in an article entitled: “Americans Are Arming Themselves.  Why?” I wrote the following:  “The popular explanation is that Americans are afraid of what this socialist Congress and president will do to deprive Americans of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Well, that is CERTAINLY a PART of it, but I think there is more, much more, and a far more serious explanation… and, I am convinced the government believes as I do.

See, I think the American people are preparing themselves to go toe to toe with their government.  I believe the American people are making a statement.  That statement is:  “This Far and No Farther!”  In other words, “We are going to give you socialists a chance.  But, if you step over the line, if you attempt to deprive us of our constitutional right to keep and bear arms, we will not tolerate that.”

Some of us older Americans remember what happened when the socialist took over in Russia in 1917. It is NOT going to be allowed to happen here.

I think it is meant to counter the act of the Bush, and soon, Obama Administrations of bringing combat troops back to The States and stationing them here, on US soil, reportedly for population control in the event of “social unrest” or massive acts of “civil disorder or disobedience” keyed by any number of things including the economy going through the floor, or, well, I’ll let your imagination fill in the blank, because, frankly, the subject is so delicate, I don’t even want to touch it! 

I have concluded, rightly or wrongly, that Americans are sending a signal to their government.  That signal is:  “We won’t be bullied. There will be a price to pay if you dare step over the line.”  Congress and the President had better pay attention.  It is low profile stuff at the moment, but it can get very big, very fast.  And… it is VERY dangerous!”  (SOURCE)

Our overseas cousins have great difficulty understanding American’s love of the gun.  But it really IS quite simple.  You see -- America was born at the muzzle of a gun.  We won our freedom at the muzzle of a gun.  We expanded our country from the Atlantic to the Pacific at the muzzle of a gun.  We fought our own war over state’s rights at the muzzle of a gun.  We preserved our freedom by defeating the Japanese and the Germans at the muzzle of a gun and we have assisted a number of countries to maintain, or regain, their freedom at the muzzle of a gun. Even now, as I write, the US military is patrolling the waters of the Persian Gulf to protect the transport of approximately 40% of the world’s oil and ensure it’s passage through the Straits of Hormuz -- at the muzzle of our big naval guns, and we continue an attempt to salvage Afghanistan and drag it into the 21^st century by fighting off religious fanatics -- at the muzzle of a gun.

Americans understand the importance of the ability of every man to defend himself, his family, and his freedom.  We also understand the importance of assisting our global neighbors in defending their freedom -- for the loss of their freedom brings the threat one step closer to our shores.

Americans have a scared duty to halt the encroachment of domestic tyranny. Freedom is our birthright and we WILL defend it.

Many Americans are deeply concerned over the state of the world today.  We remember what happened in the 1930’s when the world found itself in similar circumstances to today.  It led to a world war.

Then, too, there is this:  We rather like the rogue nations, the terrorists, the tyrants, and tin-pot dictators to know that the American public is armed to the teeth, ready, and willing to defend our country should they, through some mental aberration, have designs on it.  The LAST thing you want to confront is a PO’ed American with a gun!

Oh, … and we like to hunt, too.

J. D. Longstreet

Iran Threatens The Straits Of Hormuz Again

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

I sometimes wonder if Iran actually enjoys being a boil on the world’s backside.  They have been a pain in the posterior, most especially of the US, since the decade of the 1970’s. 

America spends millions upon millions of taxpayer’s dollars to patrol the shoreline of Iran in an on-going attempt to keep the oil flowing through the Persian Gulf.  Only a portion of that oil is bound for the US, which means the US is acting, again, as the global police. 

What is it with nations like Iran and North Korea?  They seem to feel they must continuously stir up trouble so the rest of the world won’t forget they are there.  Like a spoiled child “acting out” to get the attention of his parents, these rogue nations will scream and stamp their feet and wail like banshees until somebody notices them.

Recently, Iran has outpaced North Korea with their spoiled brat theatrics.

Once again, Iran is threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz.  Although the Straits are approximately 20 miles wide at the narrowest point, the sea-lanes are only 4-miles wide with a two-mile wide partition between the incoming sea-lane and the outgoing sea-lane. 

Yes, Iran has the capability of closing the Straits.  She can attack oil tankers while they are in the straits, sink them, and create a blockage of the waterway.  But there is little doubt, if any, that the US would strike Iran, with all barrels blazing, if Iran was dumb enough to execute a military strike on unarmed merchant vessels within the straits in a bid to close the Gulf and stop the flow of oil out of those waters through the Straits of Hormuz. 

Some 40 percent of the world’s oil, transported by sea, passes through the Straits of Hormuz.  Thus, effectively closing the Straits would create a worldwide shortage of petrol and petroleum based products… and that is nearly everything.  I don’t think it is really possible, at this point in world history, to estimate the damage to the global economy such an act would cause.

To say there would be an increase in gas prices would be an understatement of enormous proportions.  It would, no doubt, push many of the world’s nations over the brink, upon which they are tottering today, and into the abyss of economic collapse.  There would be chaos on a global scale. 

And there would be war.

There seems little doubt that most of Iran’s naval assets would be destroyed before they ever cast off their lines or hauled in their anchors.  Her submarines, (old Kilo class subs) are of special interest to the US Navy (as are all submarines) and, we suspect, they would be destroyed almost immediately.  Besides, operating a submarine in the shallow waters of the Gulf presents special problems for even the best submariners and, frankly, we have doubts about the proficiency of Iranian sub crews. 

So, what about Iran’s ship killer missiles?  Well, they have them -- and they reportedly are mounted on those so-called “fast attack” boats we became so familiar with during the Iran-Iraq war. The missile is reportedly a hybrid.  They are said to be a cross between the old US Harpoon missile and the old French Exocet missile.  They are made -- you guessed it – in China.

Iran should understand that any unprovoked attack on shipping in the Straits will bring an instantaneous counter attack by the US Navy and, certainly, the navies of other countries whose oil supplies would be severely curtailed or cut-off completely. The advantage to Iran of any such attack is difficult, if not impossible, to discern.

But if, as the theology experts warn us, Iran is determined to pave the way for the return of the 12th Imam, the Madi, which is said to depend upon worldwide chaos, then such an unprovoked attack is certainly within the realm of possibility and, frankly, probability.  In any event, the US -- and the world -- should be prepared.

The other troubling aspect of our current state of relations between the US and Iran is what many Americans define as weak leadership coming from the Office of the President of the United States.  This concern was underlined when our Commander-in-Chief did not order US troops to recover the lost reconnaissance UAV aircraft that, apparently, landed itself in Iran recently.  Even a missile attack on the drone to insure it’s destruction and prevent our top secret intelligence gathering electronics from falling into the hands of Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea, would have been preferable to Obama’s reaction, which was, shamefully, NO action.

The point of all this is simple.  Even though we are celebrating the return from Iraq of US forces this month, and family reunions at Christmastime, we must keep our forces well trained, well equipped, and leaning forward … because we WILL be forced to return to war in the Gulf region soon … very soon.

J. D. Longstreet

It’s Halftime In The Iraq War

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

I continue to read piece after piece about the war in Iraq winding down for US troops.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  The US is in the Middle East for the foreseeable future whether we want to be – or not!

It is only halftime in the Iraq War.  We have just finished the first two quarters and we’re off to the locker room to rest up and prepare for the second half.   There will be a second half.  Count on it.    The US has “forward positioned” war fighting material in the area in preparation for the day we next take the field in Iraq.

US troops are leaving Iraq not as winners, and not as losers -- for the war is not over.  Everyone with a lick of sense knows it. 

Iran is waiting for the dust to settle and they will begin to apply their strangle hold on Iraq.  Through out the war American troops have been fighting Iranian troops and defending against Iranian “insurgents” -- all of this on the soil of Iraq.

In my opinion -- the war in Iraq was not only a good idea -- it was necessary.   Had the US not intervened, Saddam Hussein would most certainly have gained control of a huge share of the world’s oil supply.  Iraqi troops would have smothered Kuwait and Saudi Arabia very quickly and Hussein was headed that way. 

As to the claims that Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction, we KNOW that he did.  He used them on his own people.  WMD are NOT necessarily nuclear in nature. There are radiological, biological, and chemical weapons of mass destruction. 

There is also a school of thought that Hussein also had some nuke capability, possibly old Russian nuclear artillery shells, and the ability to create the so-called nuclear “dirty bombs.”  Some feel the Russians and the Iranians spirited those weapons out of Iraq into Syria and Iran days before hostilities began.

Saddam Hussein had to go just as Ahmadinejad in Iran has to go.  Currently Ahmadinejad is at, or very near, the top of the list of world troublemakers who find themselves in the sights of oil consuming nations around the globe.  Face it.  No one is going to be allowed total control over the flow of oil from the Middle East -- no matter the cost.

The US made a bad decision when it decided to “nation build” in Iraq.  Rather, it seems to me, we should have set up an occupational government and run the government with American military officials for as long as was necessary… even decades into the future.  As it is, we are leaving an Iraqi government that will be lucky to stand long enough for US troops to exit Kuwait.     

Even with American training the plain truth is the Iraqi military and police are pathetic.  At the first sign of real trouble it will become extremely difficult to find an Iraqi soldier or policeman.  Uniforms will be shed and they will melt away in the crowds and may even take up arms against the current government. 

Nobody wants to say it publicly but the fact is the Iraqi House the Americans built was built on quicksand and will soon sink beneath the shifting sands.

Iraq was chosen as a “killing ground” for the Islamic terrorists of the world.  And they came.  And they died. And that was good for America.  We fought them over there to avoid having to fight them over here.  It worked very well, indeed.  Islamofacists from all over the world poured into Iraq to fight the Infidel.  And the infidel kicked their collective butts into Paradise where Allah could sort them out at his leisure.  It was America’s way of “thinning the herd.”

I am not one of those pie in the sky ideologues who believe the so-called “Arab Spring” a good thing.  In fact, I think it will turn out to be a very bad thing for America and the West.   Islamofacism, I suspect, will manage to take over the majority of the countries involved in the revolutions that swept the Arab tier of states this past summer.   If I am right, and I believe I am, it will mean that America will not be allowed to disengage from the Middle East in any meaningful way.  We are there, and we will be there, for generations into the future.

No.  The Iraq war is not over.  It’s only halftime.

J. D. Longstreet