Simple Enough

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I am watching the live feed from CNN of President Obama’s address to the nation from the United States Military Academy at  West Point.  It is impressive to see the Corps of Cadets all in dress uniforms waiting for the commander in chief to speak to the nation and the world.  These are the young men and women that will be taking the leadership roles under President Obama’s military policy in the middle east.  I am paraphrasing what the president is going to say.  It may be a bit choppy but here we go.

President Obama was just introduced to the Corps of Cadets with a rousing round of applause.  The president compliments the Corps of Cadets as the best the country has to offer.  He explains the reason we are in the war in Afghanistan reminding us of what occurred on 9-11.  Under the banner of national unity and international support we were involved in ridding the world of the Taliban.  In 2003 we went into Iraq which was fought under extraordinary cost we are bringing that war to a responsible close.  We are successfully leaving Iraq to its people.

In Afghanistan the country was splintered by the Taliban, poor government, and poor military.  We have made progress on important efforts by killing high ranking Taliban leaders.  The election in Afghanistan, although marred by fraud, did produce a legitimate government.  We are there to train the Afghan Security forces.

As cadets you volunteered to serve in this time of war.  I owe you a mission that is clearly defined which is why he had a review of the situation.  The review is complete and 30,000 troops will be sent in Afghanistan with a troop withdrawal beginning within 18 months.

President Obama is sincere in his words and delivery, very presidential.  He has signed a letter of condolence to each family of fallen military members.  If he thought this war was not necessary he would bring all the troops home today.

Disrupt , dismantle and defeat the Taliban.  Deny Al-Qaida a safe haven and strengthen the Afghan security forces.  The Afghan people have known violence for decades.  We will seek a partnership with Afghanistan.  We are in Afghanistan in partnership with the efforts of Pakistan.

We are committed to a partnership with Pakistan.  We cannot tolerate a safe haven for terrorists.  Pakistan must know that Americaremains committed to the security of its country.  America has no interest in fighting an endless war in Afghanistan.  The cost is going to cost 30 billion dollars this year for the troop increase.  The president states that none of this will be easy.  Nimble and precise in our use of military power.  We cannot count on the military might alone.  Homeland Security is important in the fight as well.  Diplomacy is important.  America will speak out for the dignity and human rights of all peoples.

The president seems very well versed in all that he is speaking about.  His role as commander in chief is evident in his words.  He has stirred several rounds of applause from the Corps of Cadets with his words.  We can summon the unity that we once held after a horrific attack on our people.  Our cause is just and our resolve is unwavering, those were his closing words.

I think this was his best speech so far.  He was in command throughout and never faltered on what he was saying.  The president is now down with the cadets and getting a very warm response.  Now we wait for the political response about his speech.

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In this map, which takes into account all the documented nuclear tests since 1945, two things really stand out. The few days in 1945 that saw the only use of nuclear weapons on humans register, when measured on the unfeeling scale of kilotons, as two small blips, aberrant in their location but unremarkable in their size. Then you see the key: The scale is not linear. If it was, the larger explosions would cover most of the map. That’s the thing with nuclear weapons: It’s easy to lose your sense of scale when it comes to how powerful they are, or what havoc  they can wreak.  This chart comes from DataVis.

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I just noticed it has been 5 days since I last posted, which means my tumblarity has tumbld to the gutter.  It has been a busy week with work, extra work and family taxi service.  The weather is teasing me with the chance of snow.  Being from the north I’m not to thrilled for snow down here since no one seems to know how to drive in it.  It will most likely miss us anyway and just be rain and maybe some slush.

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IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.

IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.

IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU GET SHOT.

IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU WILL BE JAILED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.

IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.

IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU GET:
A JOB,
A DRIVERS LICENSE,
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
WELFARE,
FOOD STAMPS,
CREDIT CARDS,
SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
FREE EDUCATION,
FREE HEALTH CARE,
A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON,
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE,
THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY’S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON’T GET ENOUGH RESPECT.
AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION

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I have been very lazy about blogging of late, not because I don’t ant to blog, it just seems like life has been a bit on the boring side around here.  I get in these moods where nothing I think about writing even sounds blog worthy, then again is much really all that blog worthy anyway?

The big snow storm up in the mid-Atlantic region is worth blogging about, Snow was falling from southern Indiana eastward to New York City, Washington, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the New Jersey coast, but all we have gotten here in South Carolina was rain.  I kind of wish we were getting that kind of snow.  Washington should be good for a few days off and a government shut down while they dig out.

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Could it be true? Could we actually see snow tomorrow here in South Carolina? There seems to be some forecasting for just that. I can take it or leave it at this point. It’s my weekend to work so it would be nice not to have to put up with any potential messy weather.  Winter weather is something people do not know how to handle well down here.  I guess I will stay tuned to the National Weather Service for the latest updates and dig out my Chicago weather gear.

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Being from the north I have seen a lot of snow in my life but for those living in the south, that includes me now, it can be a big deal.  Here in the Upstate of South Carolina we got dumped on with anywhere from 6” - 12” of snow early this morning.  Needless to say it has shut the area down almost completely.  Atlanta got shut down as well.  We usually get a couple snowfalls of an inch or so each year but this is the biggest winter storm in this area since 1988.  The National Weather Service was hesitant to compare snow totals with 1988 until it started falling when they upped the possible accumulations from 4” - 8” to 9” 12”.

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